In the ongoing England-India Test series, which has seen some bold stroke play, Rishabh Pant has once again emerged as one of the most thrilling players to watch.
With two centuries in the first Test and scores of 25 and 65 at Edgbaston, the 27-year-old has scored 342 runs across four innings at an average of 85.50. Pant's fearless style and unpredictable flair haven't just captured fans' attention; they have earned admiration from some of the sport's biggest names.
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Speaking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast, former England white-ball skipper Jos Buttler and former pacer Stuart Broad shared their views on the excitement Pant brings to the game.
Jos Buttler is a fan of Rishabh Pant's on-field antics
Recalling a morning before a T20 Blast game, Buttler said he couldn't resist tuning in the moment he saw Pant was batting.
"Saturday morning I was like up late for a breakfast before our T20 Blast game and just check the score and Pant's in. So it's like I'm straight on Sky Go on my phone to be like I'm going to watch this guy bat. He lobbed his bat about 30 yards, slog-sweeping Josh Tongue, it's absolutely box office, isn't it?" Buttler said.
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Buttler described the chaos Pant brings to the dressing room too - equal parts anxiety and amusement for the batter next in line.
"You know when he’s launching the bat, the guy who's next in, you can't sit down. I'd be pacing up and down like, 'when is he going to run down? When is he going to get on one knee?' At the same time, I'd be cheering when he smacks it into the stand, and the next moment I'm like, 'don’t do that, stay in!'" he added.
It's all happening 😅
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 5, 2025
Big swing no ding from Rishabh Pant 😂 pic.twitter.com/bJ489vvEYb
Broad also couldn't hide his admiration, calling Pant "outstanding" and one of those rare players whose presence demands your attention. He added that England still need to find a way to stop Pant from taking games away - especially with his ability to change the momentum in a session.
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With Pant, Brook and young names like Jamie Smith batting aggressively, Buttler praised both sides for pushing for results in conditions that could have easily produced dull draws.
India vs England 2025 Test series: Full schedule and results
| Date | Match | Time (IST) | Result | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 20–24, 2025 | 1st Test | 3:30 PM | ENG won by 5 wickets | Headingley, Leeds |
| July 2–6, 2025 | 2nd Test | 3:30 PM | IND won by 336 runs | Edgbaston, Birmingham |
| July 10–14, 2025 | 3rd Test | 3:30 PM | Lord’s, London | |
| July 23–27, 2025 | 4th Test | 3:30 PM | Old Trafford, Manchester | |
| July 31–Aug 4, 2025 | 5th Test | 3:30 PM | Kennington Oval, London |