Rishabh Pant got on top of Craig Overton’s ball, pulled it through square leg to bring up his maiden ODI ton. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter, 26 ODIs old, finished the game with an unbeaten 125 off 113 balls to help his side beat England by five wickets. 

India won the three-match ODI series 2-1. 

Pant came on to bat when India were reduced to 21/2 inside five overs. He absorbed the pressure as the visitors lost Virat Kohli (17) and Suryakumar Yadav (16) for cheap. The 24-year-old then joined hands with Hardik Pandya to stitch a century stand and rescue the Men in Blue. The all-rounder, who had taken a four-wicket haul in the first innings, made 71. 

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India won the match with eight overs to spare. 

With the 125-run knock, Pant became the third desiganted Indian wicketkeeper to score a hundred outside Asia. Only Rahul Dravid and KL Rahul have done it in the past. 

STAT: ODI 100s by desiganted Indian wicketkeepers outside Asia

Rahul Dravid 145 v SL Taunton 1999

KL Rahul 112 v NZ Mount Maunganui 2020

Rishabh Pant 100* v Eng Manchester 2022

Several former cricketers, experts and fans praised Pant for his brilliant show. 

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“This is one of the best ODI? under pressure on the English soil from an Indian batter, Considering series was on the line @RishabhPant17,” former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan tweeted. 

“Last match of a series and @RishabhPant17 playing brilliantly – this is a better love story than twilight. Incredible innings from an incredible player – with great support from Hardik and Jadeja,” legendary India opener Virender Sehwag said on Twitter. 

After the win, skipper Rohit Sharma gestured a thumbs up at Pant. England’s Jonny Bairstow hugged him. 

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“Heartiest congratulations @RishabhPant17 bro on your ODI century. You were fantastic throughout, what a player ??? #INDvENG,” Suresh Raina tweeted. 

Here are some other social media reactions:

Sent into bat, skipper Jos Buttler top-scored with 60 while opener Jason Roy made 41, as England were bowled out for 259.

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For India, Hardik Pandya was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4/24, while Yuzvendra Chahal took three wickets for 60.