Rishabh Pant‘s remarkable 134 and 118 in both innings of the Headingley Test against England made him only the second wicketkeeper in cricket history to accomplish this achievement. However, despite his remarkable performance, India lost the match as England chased down 371, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.

This accomplishment stood in sharp contrast to his performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, where he managed just 255 runs across five Tests, averaging 28.33. Pant’s aggressive style was ineffective, with just 24 fours and 6 sixes coming from his bat.

After facing significant criticism for his reckless shot selection, especially following his dismissal from a ramp shot in the Melbourne Test, Pant took time to reflect on his performance. His dismissal was criticized by Sunil Gavaskar.

Pant also missed out on the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, where India won the final against New Zealand. In March 2025, he reportedly uninstalled WhatsApp and kept his phone off.

During the IPL, where he captained Lucknow Super Giants, his performance fell short of expectations. He failed to score 300 runs for the season, with his stats boosted only by a century in the final league match against RCB.

Pant’s return to Test cricket has marked a positive shift, with the Indian vice-captain beginning the England series on a strong note. Sohum Desai, the former strength and conditioning coach, shared that Pant stuck to a rigorous fitness routine, even while being on the bench during the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy.

“He pushed himself through intense training sessions every single day. Whenever he had free time, he would drag me to the gym. Fatigue or work schedules never seemed to matter to him; all he focused on was improving himself. On the day of the final, he came to me feeling guilty and asked if he could take the day off. I told him it was well-deserved and the right time for a break,” Desai shared with the Times of India.

“Pant has such a strong foundation that he can maintain his performance for at least a year without needing to push himself too hard. That’s why, despite scoring two centuries and keeping wickets for extended periods in the Headingley Test, you still see him moving around effortlessly,” he added