The second match of the five-match Test series between India and England, currently underway, will be played in Birmingham starting Wednesday. The Indian players are putting in their best efforts to prepare for this match. This will be a significant opportunity for Team India to make a comeback after the loss in Leeds.
IND vs ENG: The second match of the thrilling five-Test series between India and England is set to begin in Birmingham, and all eyes are once again on wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. Pant has a golden opportunity to create history with the bat in this Test. If he scores another century in this match, he will surpass legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, and also challenge Rahul Dravid's long-standing record.
Pant has so far scored a total of five centuries against England, including four centuries on English soil and one on Indian soil. Notably, he is currently jointly in second place with Sachin Tendulkar and Dilip Vengsarkar in the list of Indian batsmen with four centuries in England. If Pant scores one more century in this Test, he will move to second place alone with five centuries in England, while Rahul Dravid remains at the top of this list with six centuries.
Special memories in Birmingham, Pant's previous century
Pant has a special relationship with Birmingham. The last time India played here in 2022, Pant played a brilliant innings of 146 runs, pushing the English bowlers on the back foot. He also scored 57 runs in the second innings of that match. This is why Team India expects a similar performance from him this time.
Indian team captain Shubman Gill will also push for a win in Birmingham, as India's record on this ground has been quite disappointing. India has played eight Tests here so far, of which they have lost seven and one match has been drawn. In such a situation, Pant's innings could prove crucial in giving India its first win on this historic ground.
Indians with the most Test centuries in England
This century by Pant will not only change the list of those with the most centuries in England, but it could also give him a high position in terms of total centuries against England. Currently, Pant has five centuries against England, and with one century, he will equal Mohammad Azharuddin, who has scored six centuries against England. Pant is currently tied with Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Vengsarkar with a record of five centuries.
Currently, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar are at the top of the list of those with the most centuries against England, having scored seven centuries each. If Pant scores two or more centuries in this series, he can also surpass Dravid and Sachin, which would be a big achievement in itself.
Indians with the most centuries against England
If Pant continues to score runs in England, he can also make a special place in the list of foreign batsmen. Currently, the record for the most centuries in England is held by Australia's Don Bradman, who has scored 11 centuries. After him are Steve Smith (8 centuries) and Steve Waugh (7 centuries). Rahul Dravid has scored 6 centuries in England, while West Indies' Gordon Greenidge and Australia's Allan Border have scored five centuries each. If Pant scores two or three centuries on this tour, he can equal or surpass these names.
Rishabh Pant's specialty has been that he changes the course of the match with aggressive batting even under pressure. The 2022 Birmingham Test was a great example of this, when he played blistering strokes against both spin and pace in the first innings. Even the English fast bowlers have acknowledged that it is not easy to stop Pant, as he upsets the bowlers' strategy with his attacking approach.
After the defeat in the Leeds Test, this match is a do-or-die situation for India. Winning this match is necessary to stay in the series and to maintain the hope of a historic victory in England. In such a situation, a big score by a match-winner like Rishabh Pant can boost the team's confidence.
