Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant’s reputation as one of the best young players compounds every time he takes to the field. And during the second day of the fourth and final Test against England in Ahmedabad on Friday, he brought up his third Test ton to guide India to a commanding position. 

Pant came in to bat with India’s innings in tatters at 80/4 and stitched crucial partnerships with Rohit Sharma and Washington Sundar as India finished the day at 294/7 in reply to England’s first innings total of 205. 

His innings included 13 boundaries and two sixes, the second of which he slog swept off Joe Root to bring up his ton.

His swashbuckling innings, which also included a boundary from an audacious reverse sweep against James Anderson, earned him praises from across the cricketing fraternity as well as comparisons with former Indian opener Virender Sehwag. 

Sehwag was himself impressed with the 23-year-old aggressive innings, as he took to Twitter to share a meme.

“Me Watching Rishabh Pant reverse sweep Anderson for a boundary and then bring up his century with a SIX. That’s my Boy!” Sehwag captioned his post. 

Legendary South African  batsman AB de Villers also agreed with Pant’s comparisons with Sehwag. “#RishabhPant is so #Sehwag I won’t even be surprised if he going forward he starts singing while batting,” de Villiers tweeted. 

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Here is how Twitter reacted to Pant’s century:

“He is second virendra sehwag of indan team. And again i m taking interest to watch test because of Rishabh Pant,” a user tweeted. 

Pant (101 from 118 balls) was dismissed soon after reaching his ton, as he smashed a delivery from James Anderson straight to skipper Joe Root at short mid-wicket. 

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Sundar (60*) is currently unbeaten at the crease with Axar Patel (11*), with India leading by 89 runs. 

The hosts are a draw away from securing qualification for the World Test Championship final against New Zealand in June.