England were in to have a taste of their own medicine as India continued to pile on the runs during the second innings of the Edgbaston Test, prompting batter Harry Brook to switch to mind games to try and derail wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant during his enthralling boundary-fest on Saturday.
Brook’s cheeky swipe received a firm response from Pant, who refused to be swayed by the Englishman’s question between deliveries. Brook attempted to get into Pant’s mind, quizzing him about his fastest Test hundred.
“In Test cricket, maybe 80-90 minutes,” replied Pant after Brook popped the “What’s your fastest 100” question. Brook intriguingly chose to remind Pant of his fastest hundred in 55 balls that came in the IPL 2023 season with the SunRisers Hyderabad.
“The fastest hundred I have ever done in 55 balls; you can do that today,” said Brook as he attempted to egg on the India wicket-keeper to switch into ultra-aggression and commit a mistake.
“It’s okay. Not very greedy for records. If it happens, it happens,” a level-headed Pant responded.
Records? #RishabhPant’s reply will win your respect. 🙌#HarryBrook asked about the fastest hundred and Pant’s response was pure humility. 💯✨#ENGvIND 👉 2nd TEST, Day 4 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar ➡ https://t.co/2wT1UwEcdi pic.twitter.com/MEx6HVDUJH
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 5, 2025
‘Record breaker’
Pant proceeded to smear a quick-fire half-century, scoring 65 off 58 balls with eight fours and three sixes. Led by captain Shubman Gill’s second century of the match, a blazing 161 of 162 deliveries, India set a colossal 608-run target for England. Pant, who has struck six fifty-plus scores in his last seven innings in England, broke a heap of big-hitting records during the innings.
Pant became the first Asian wicket-keeper to record 2000 runs in SENA Tests. The left-hander has struck 23 sixes in Tests in England, the most by any batter in an away country. Pant shored up his career Test sixes to 86. Only Virender Sehwag (90) and Rohit Sharma (88) have recorded more sixes in the format for India.
Brook and England will now have to do the heavy lifting on the final day with Pant behind the stumps, as the hosts slipped to 72 for three on Day 4. With 536 runs required for victory, England will resume play with first-innings centurion Brook and Ollie Pope at the crease.
