Rishabh Pant sparkles as India take the honours on day one

It was the Rishabh Pant show on day one of the rescheduled fifth Test between India and England at Edgbaston as he smashed the fastest century by an Indian wicketkeeper in red-ball cricket. Pant shared a stellar 222-run partnership from just 239 balls with fellow left-hander Ravindra Jadeja to rescue the visitors from 98 for five and take them to a commanding position of 338 for seven at the close of play.

While Pant and Jadeja dominated most of the day with their jaw-dropping stroke-play, the morning began with the tourists being put in to bat under gloomy Edgbaston skies by Ben Stokes. India’s new-look opening partnership of Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill showed some promise early on against the new ball, but Gill edged behind against Jimmy Anderson on 17 after playing a couple of eye-catching strokes. The veteran seamer produced another beauty to remove his opening partner, Pujara, getting one to bounce considerably off a good length and catch an edge on its way to second slip.

Persistent rain and a wet outfield stalled the proceedings and the prospect of another Anderson vs Kohli classic, and after a two-hour-long delay, the action resumed with further trouble for the Indian batters. Matty Potts picked up two wickets in seven deliveries after the break, trapping Hanuma Vihari plumb in front before getting an indecisive Virat Kohli to chop onto his stumps while looking to leave the ball. Shreyas Iyer looked aggressive in his short stay at the crease, but the number five didn’t last long in his first Test innings in England, edging behind to Sam Billings to leave India in a world of bother at 98 for five.

However, just as the game seemed to be slipping away from the visitor’s grasp, India staged a stunning counterattack through left-handers Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. Pant led the fightback with a couple of magnificent drives through the covers, and the southpaw also took every opportunity to dismantle Jack Leach, launching the left-arm spinner over his head for six on three occasions. While Jadeja dug in and played the waiting game, Pant took the English attack to the cleaners, striking at over a run a ball and bringing up his fifth Test century in just 89 deliveries.

Pant continued his assault after reaching triple figures, with as many as 164 runs coming in the 29 overs post Tea. The wicketkeeper punched Matty Potts with disdain through the off-side and furthered Jack Leach’s misery, hitting the spinner for 20 runs and four boundaries in a single over. After scoring 146 in 110 balls, Pant finally departed while looking to clear the ropes against Joe Root for the second ball in a row, only to edge a wide delivery into the hands of first slip. The off-spinner ended a record sixth-wicket partnership worth 222 runs with that dismissal, and despite also losing Shardul Thakur on the eve of stumps, the Men in Blue ended the day in a commanding position of 338 for seven with Ravindra Jadeja still at the crease