Rishabh Pant pulls off 'one of the best celebrations' after century as India pile on the misery for England
Rishabh Pant has let Ben Stokes know how bad his call at the toss could be after celebrating his first century of 2025 with a front flip.
For the first Test at Leeds between England and India, Stokes chose to bowl first. There would no doubt have been some regret about his decision, with India 3-359 at stumps on day one.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan said to the BBC he was "staggered" by the call.
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Stokes' decision meant Shubman Gill's first day as Test captain couldn't have gone any better as he finished the day on 127 not out, while Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 101.
Pant finished day one on 65 not out but then pushed on and brought up his ton with a six off Shoaib Bashir.
His ton came off 146 balls with India 3-419 in the 100th over. He took his gloves off and then performed a front flip for the Headingley crowd.
Rishabh Pant celebrates with a flip. Getty
"That is an extraordinary hundred, what a way to do it, this fella is box office," Ian Ward said on Sky Sports.
"One of the great entertainers, one of the best hundred celebrations I've seen, he's a character."
Pant moved to 113 before he watched Gill hold out to Josh Tongue on the boundary off Bashir's bowling. He left the ground with a score of 147 and was clapped off by the crowd.
Three overs later, Stokes claimed his third scalp, as Ollie Pope claimed one of the great Test match catches at cover to dismiss Karun Nar for a duck.
Ollie Pope's catch. FOX Sports
Pant eventually fell for 134, trapped in front by Tongue.
The left-hander reviewed the original decision but three red lights sent him on his way.
More claps from the crowd came, as Mel Jones described the innings as "quite special".
"No matter who you support, you can certainly acknowledge some brilliance in the middle," she said.
India's collapse continued with Shardul Thakur caught behind for 1 off Stokes' bowling.
The visitors then went into lunch 7-454, making for a 4-24 collapse from Gill's dismissal.
India were eventually bowled out for 471 with Tongue and Stokes claiming four wickets each.
