WATCH, ENG vs IND | Battered Pant laments after sustained brutal hammering from Tongue

‌India got their five-Test tour of England off to an exceptional start in Headingley as Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant all scored tons to help the hosts post an imposing 471 in the first-innings. All three batters showed intent to attack through their stay at the crease, with phases of absorbing pressure nestled in between, and racked up at least 10 boundaries each. However, none of them took the aerial route as much as Pant who struck six maximums in his knock of 134, but the glory did not come without pain.

Pant was batting with his usual open stance while taking and leg and middle guard, almost covering his entire stumps in the process. As a result, Ben Stokes employed the rapid Josh Tongue to angle in from around the Stumps and tagret the southpaw's front leg given Pant's tendency to fall over and be off balance. Bowling over 140 clicks consistently, Tongue executed the plan to a T, hammering ball after ball into the wicket-keeper batter's hamstring to leave him welping with pain. Even though Pant endured blow after blow patiently, at one point he got frustrated enough to yell out to his partner, "Suja diya isne maar maar ke, same jagah maare jaa raha hai [He has induced swelling with blow after blow, he is targetting the same spot again and again]."

The fact that the wicket-keeper batter recovered to end up with twin tons is a story in itself. Stump Mic is lub!