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Rishabh Pant scripts history with twin centuries in England, becomes first Indian to achieve feat

Rishabh Pant made history at Headingley by becoming the first Indian batter to score centuries in both innings of a Test in England, rewriting several records in the process.

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Team India vice-captain Rishabh Pant added another remarkable milestone to his growing legacy, becoming the first Indian batter to score centuries in both innings of a Test match on English soil. This extraordinary achievement came during the opening Test against England at Headingley, where Pant displayed a rare blend of composure and aggression across both innings.

Pant, who already made a mark with a knock of 134 in the first innings, followed it up with a gritty 118 in the second, anchoring India’s position alongside KL Rahul with a 195-run partnership. Adjusting his naturally aggressive style to suit the situation, Pant showcased maturity by transitioning from audacious strokeplay to solid defence when required.

The southpaw reached his second century of the match by guiding a delivery from Shoaib Bashir past deep point for a single, thereby entering the elite group of Indians to have scored twin centuries in a Test match. However, he stands alone as the only Indian to accomplish this feat in England.

Pant’s achievement puts him in the esteemed company of legendary Indian names such as Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rohit Sharma, who have previously achieved twin centuries in a Test, albeit not in England.

Internationally, Pant also became just the second designated wicketkeeper-batter to score centuries in both innings of a Test, following Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower, who did so against South Africa in 2001.

Furthermore, Pant’s consistent performance places him among visiting batters with five consecutive 50-plus scores in England—a list that includes cricketing greats like Don Bradman, Hansie Cronje, Kumar Sangakkara, and Steven Smith, who leads with seven.

Pant’s match tally of 252 runs (134 & 118) also set a new record for the highest match aggregate by a designated wicketkeeper in a Test in England, surpassing Alec Stewart’s 204-run effort in 1998.

Adding flair to statistics, Pant’s nine sixes in the match equalled the record for the most sixes by a batter in a Test in England, sharing the feat with Andrew Flintoff and Ben Stokes.

So far, Pant has scored 808 runs in 10 Tests and 19 innings in England, averaging 42.52, with four centuries and two fifties at a strike rate of 69.89—cementing his status as one of India’s most impactful Test performers abroad.

Though urged by Sunil Gavaskar to celebrate his ton with a somersault, Pant declined and instead resumed his innings with a flurry of boundary-laden strokes against Joe Root, capping a performance that will be etched in Indian cricketing history.

Cricket news

IPL 2026 playoff race heats up as Sunrisers Hyderabad lead qualification odds at 75%

Sunrisers Hyderabad lead the IPL 2026 playoff race with the highest qualification probability, while Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings remain locked in a close contest for the final spot.

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The IPL 2026 playoff race has intensified further, with the latest qualification projections showing a clear edge for Sunrisers Hyderabad, while the battle for the final knockout spot remains wide open among multiple contenders.

According to updated playoff probability estimates following recent matches, Sunrisers Hyderabad hold the strongest position among all teams still in contention, with a 75% chance of qualifying for the top four. Their consistent performances have kept them comfortably ahead in the mid-table scramble.

At the same time, the race behind them has become increasingly tight, with several teams separated only by small percentage margins and net run rate factors beginning to play a decisive role.

CSK, RR and PBKS in close fight for fourth spot

The most competitive battle is currently for the fourth playoff position, where three major franchises remain in contention.

Chennai Super Kings are placed at around 35.5% qualification probability, keeping their campaign alive but under pressure after inconsistent results in recent matches.

Close behind them are Rajasthan Royals, who continue to hover in a similar range with nearly identical chances, making every remaining fixture crucial for their campaign.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings have seen their prospects weaken further, slipping to around 31% despite still being in the playoff mix. Their position in the points table remains vulnerable as they struggle to build momentum in the final stretch of the league stage.

Other contenders and overall standings

Elsewhere, teams like Gujarat Titans continue to maintain a strong hold on qualification scenarios with a high probability of finishing in the top four, despite occasional setbacks.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already secured qualification status, strengthening their position at the top end of the table.

The mid-table remains highly competitive, while Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders continue to fight mathematically but face tougher paths due to lower probabilities and net run rate challenges.

What the numbers mean going forward

With only a few league matches remaining, the playoff cutoff is expected to settle around the 16-point mark, making every remaining fixture critical. Net run rate is also likely to become a key deciding factor if multiple teams finish on similar points.

Sunrisers Hyderabad remain in the strongest position, while the battle between Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings is expected to go down to the final set of league matches.

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Cricket news

IPL 2026 playoff race tightens as RCB and CSK feature in key qualification projections

RCB and CSK feature in updated IPL 2026 playoff qualification projections, with Bengaluru at 92.6% and Chennai at 41.7% as the race tightens.

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The IPL 2026 playoff race is intensifying as teams move deeper into the league stage, with qualification scenarios highlighting a closely contested battle for the top four spots.

According to recent playoff probability projections reported in media coverage, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) currently hold a strong position with a 92.6% chance of qualifying for the playoffs. Their consistent performances have placed them among the leading contenders for a top-four finish.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), meanwhile, remain in the mix but face a more challenging path ahead. Their qualification probability stands at 41.7%, meaning the five-time champions will need strong results in their remaining fixtures to stay in contention.

The updated projections underline how competitive the tournament has become, with small changes in form significantly impacting playoff chances at this stage of the league.

While only select team probabilities have been highlighted in the available data, the overall playoff race remains open, with several teams still competing for the remaining qualification spots as the league phase progresses.

The coming matches are expected to play a decisive role in shaping the final top four standings for IPL 2026.

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Cricket news

Who is Sahil Parakh? Teenager makes IPL debut for Delhi Capitals vs RCB

Sahil Parakh, an 18-year-old batter from Maharashtra, made his IPL debut for Delhi Capitals against RCB in IPL 2026.

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Sahil Parakh, an emerging batter from Maharashtra, made his Indian Premier League debut for Delhi Capitals during their 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

The 18-year-old was handed his maiden cap as the franchise made changes to its playing XI, looking to test fresh talent in a crucial stage of the tournament.

Opens innings alongside KL Rahul

Parakh was included as an opening batter and partnered experienced wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul at the top. The move reflected Delhi Capitals’ intent to experiment with their batting combination and give exposure to young players in high-pressure games.

Short stay at the crease

The debut outing did not last long for the youngster, as he was dismissed early in the innings. Despite the brief appearance, the opportunity marked an important milestone in his career.

Promising name from domestic circuit

Parakh is a left-handed batter who has impressed in age-group and domestic cricket, earning attention for his performances at the state level. His selection in the Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2026 underlines the franchise’s focus on nurturing young talent for the future.

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