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Khaleej Times
24-06-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Rishabh Pant: India's unorthodox hero with 'method to his madness'
Rishabh Pant's swashbuckling style may not be the textbook technique of great Indian batsman of old, but the diminutive wicketkeeper wrote his name into the history books at Headingley on Monday. The 27-year-old became the first Indian to score hundreds in both innings of a Test against England to give his side the edge heading into a fascinating final day of the first of a five-match series. His fourth Test century in England also saw Pant become only the second wicketkeeper in 148 years of Test history, after Zimbabwe's Andy Flower, to score twin centuries in the same match. Having already made 134 in India's first-innings 471, he came out to bat with the game delicately poised in the tourists' second innings at 92-3. True to form, though, Pant went about turning the screw in his own style. He almost knocked himself off his feet when hacking his second ball narrowly over the slip cordon before advancing up the pitch to slap Chris Woakes down the ground. But those shots were as nothing compared to a kneeling slog-sweep off an 140kmph delivery from England fast bowler Brydon Carse. Shoaib Bashir was then dispatched for two sixes in three balls, even if Pant put the breaks on for spells of the early part of his innings. All the while KL Rahul looked on from the other end, the opener's more traditional 137 a counterpoint to vice-captain Pant's whirlwind 118 during a fourth-wicket stand of 195. Rahul — who took 202 balls for his century, 72 more than Pant needed to reach three figures — said after stumps: "I've had a few partnerships with Pant. It's hard for us to understand his mindset. "You've got to let Rishabh Pant be Rishabh Pant, there's obviously a method to his madness! He's averaging (around) 45 in Test cricket, there's a lot of thinking behind the outrageous shots he plays." $3 million man Born in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, Pant's mother would regularly make the four-hour drive so her young son could receive cricket training in the major centre of Delhi, with the pair often staying in a Sikh temple as they could not afford the cost of accommodation. Pant came under the influence of the late Tarak Sinha, a coach who had already launched the likes of Manoj Prabhakar and Shikhar Dhawan on their way to careers as India cricketers. A year after making his debut in India's first-class Ranji Trophy debut aged 18 in 2015, Pant scored a triple-hundred against Maharashtra. He was on his way, with Pant's first Test century coming in just his third match, on the 2018 tour of England. The following year his stunning 159 off 189 balls in a total of 622 in Sydney sealed India's first series win in Australia against an attack used to dominating in home conditions. And in Brisbane in 2021, an unbeaten 89 guided an injury-hit India to their second series win in Australia in two visits as he defied bowlers of the calibre of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon. However, Pant's promising career and life were nearly cut short in a horror car crash in December 2022 when he had to punch his way out of the overturned vehicle as it burst into flames. After 15 months on the sidelines, many wondered if he would return to the professional game. But his comeback was so successful that Lucknow Super Giants made him the record signing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when they splashed out $3.21 million for his services at last year's November auction. He arrived in England with questions over his form after striking hust 128 runs in 10 IPL innings this IPL season. But Pant showed his class is permanent by putting England to the sword in some style.
India Gazette
22-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
"India will miss his energy, positivity, and aggression": RCB head coach Andy Flower reflects on Virat Kohli's test retirement
Rishikesh (Uttarakhand) [India] June 22 (ANI): Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower reflected on Indian veteran batter Virat Kohli's retirement from test cricket. He felt 'Men in Blue' would miss Kohli's energy, positivity, and aggression on the field, but also said 'India are lucky' that they have lots of young talent. Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12, marking an end to an illustrious 14-year career which saw him dominate a variety of conditions, regions, and opponents, both as a batter and captain. While speaking to ANI, Andy Flower said, 'I think it will have on the Indian team, not only his (Kohli's) runs, but his energy, positivity, and aggression. It is always nice having those influences in teams, where you have a few individuals that are super aggressive like he [Virat Kohli] is, in a good way. So, I think they might miss that.' 'This is the reality of these situations when great players move on, is that time moves on and teams move on and India are lucky in that they have lots of young talent coming through,' he added. Flower said India still has experienced cricketers around, such as Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, and felt the Indian Premier League sets young players up quite nicely for pressure cricket. 'India still has some very experienced cricketers around who have played a lot of cricket. Bumrah is obviously one of them, and Jadeja is still playing. And the young boys are playing so much cricket, and the IPL sets them up quite nicely for pressure cricket,' he said. In his Test career, Kohli made 123 appearances in white clothing, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings and the best score of 254*. He is India's fourth-highest run-getter in the format, behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs) and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs). India is touring England for a five-match test series, which started on June 20. This is the first test series since the legendary batter announced his retirement. This series also marks the beginning of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle 2025-27 for both nations. (ANI)
News18
22-06-2025
- Sport
- News18
Virat Kohli Is Growing More Spiritual, Navigating That Part Of Life: RCB Coach Andy Flower Reveals
RCB head coach Andy Flower heaped praise on Virat Kohli, stating that he has been a great batter and since he is no longer a part of India's Test set-up, the team will miss him in England series. Speaking with ANI, Flower also revealed that the former India and RCB skipper has been growing more spiritual with every day and is navigating that part of life. and subscribe to our channel and never miss a to CricketNext YouTube channel to never miss a video: CricketNext on Facebook: CricketNext on Twitter: CricketNext on Instagram: :
India Today
22-06-2025
- Sport
- India Today
After guiding RCB to IPL crown, coach Andy Flower finds spirituality in Rishikesh
After guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden IPL title, coach Andy Flower paid a visit to Rishikesh to meet spiritual guru Swami Chidanand Saraswati at Paramarth Niketan Ashram. The meeting between the RCB coach and the spiritual guru took place on International Yoga Day on Saturday, June 21. Flower's tactical prowess was on full show during the IPL as RCB won all their away games en route to breaking their jinx and beating PBKS in the final to win the title. Flower said, as quoted by TOI, that he was talking with Swami about teams and how the tendency is always to win trophies. advertisementThe RCB coach said that from his experience as a player and a tactician, winning is not quite enough. He feels that there has to be something more meaningful than just winning as it can be a little hollow occasionally. "I was talking with the Swami about teams, actually. And the tendency for us as a sporting organisation is to grab at that trophy that you want to win. And everything's about winning.""But from my experience in playing and coaching, winning is not quite enough. There has to be something more, something deeper, something more meaningful than just winning. Because winning is a little hollow occasionally," said Flower. #WATCH | Uttarakhand: Former Zimbabwean cricket captain and RCB coach, Andy Flower meets Swami Chidanand Saraswati, president and spiritual head of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, in Rishikesh ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2025advertisementFlower on International Yoga DayFlower also talked about International Yoga Day and said he has been a learning a lot about Yoga over the past two weeks since he has been in Rishikesh. The RCB coach said that he has enjoyed practising yoga over the past few weeks. "It has been brilliant being in Rishikesh on International Yoga Day. I have been in Rishikesh for the last two weeks. I have been learning a lot about Yoga, and the main thing I have learnt is that Yoga is not about a one-hour class, but it is a way of life for hundreds of millions of people. I have enjoyed the physical practices that I have done," said Flower. Must Watch
NDTV
22-06-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
RCB Coach Andy Flower Meets Swami Chidanand Saraswati In Rishikesh After Team's Maiden IPL win
Former Zimbabwe cricketer and current Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) coach Andy Flower on Saturday spoke on meeting Swami Chidanand Saraswati, president and spiritual head of Parmarth Niketan Ashram and discussing team sports and winning trophies with him. Flower, on the occasion of International Yoga Day, met Swami at Rishikesh, days after winning RCB their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title as a coach. Speaking to ANI about the meeting, Flower said, "I was talking with the Swami about teams, actually. And the tendency for us as a sporting organisation is to grab at that trophy that you want to win. And everything's about winning." "But from my experience in playing and coaching, winning is not quite enough. There has to be something more, something deeper, something more meaningful than just winning. Because winning is a little hollow occasionally." #WATCH | Uttarakhand: Former Zimbabwean cricket captain and RCB coach, Andy Flower meets Swami Chidanand Saraswati, president and spiritual head of Parmarth Niketan Ashram, in Rishikesh — ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2025 "It is a bit of an anti-climax sometimes after you have won. So, there has to be something more. And we were talking about the influence you can have on other people and groups of people." "But you have to take care of yourself first. You have to be in a good place yourself first to have that good influence on other people," he concluded. Speaking about his experience in the state on the occasion of International Yoga Day, "It has been brilliant being in Rishikesh on International Yoga Day. I have been in Rishikesh for the last two weeks. I have been learning a lot about Yoga, and the main thing I have learnt is that Yoga is not about a one-hour class, but it is a way of life for hundreds of millions of people. I have enjoyed the physical practices that I have done..."
