India vs England: Records shattered by Rishabh Pant during his explosive knock

India are up against England in the fifth Test of the series that was rescheduled last year due to the COVID scare. 

This is a crucial opportunity for India to improve their position in the World Test Championship. India are currently in the third spot as per the Percentage of Points (PCT) earned by teams, and hence a win in this match is essential for their chances in the competition. 

The hosts won the toss and decided to field first in the match. The Three Lions dominated the Indian batters and reduced them to 98 for 5. From this stage, Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja staged a brilliant comeback for the team. 

Counter-attacking Pant

India were under severe pressure when Pant came out to bat. 

Taking his time and grinding it out in the middle would have been the ideal way to progress for Pant. But Pant decided to take the attack to the opposition. After the initial phase, Pant switched gears and never looked back during his stay at the crease.

He got an ideal partner in Ravindra Jadeja, who complimented him perfectly. While Pant was playing the role of aggressor in the partnership, Jadeja was rotating the strike and ensuring that the team's scoring rate was kept high. 

During his stay, Pant scored 146 runs from 111 balls, hitting 20 fours and four sixes. He was ultimately dismissed by Joe Root but not before he staged India's turnaround in the match with an outstanding 222-run partnership. While Pant thrashed the English bowlers, he kept on achieving some rare feats on the way.

Here is a look at some of the unique records Pant achieved during his knock:

Centuries in the last match of a series: Pant's century in the match was the fifth of his Test career. The most surprising fact in these centuries is that all of these centuries have come in the last match of a Test series. 

Highest Average at Number five: After the gutsy knock, Pant now averages 87.50 in seven innings. This is better than Joe Root's average of 67.78, which is the highest in the game's longest format if a minimum of 20 innings is considered.

Highest sixth wicket partnership at Edgbaston, Birmingham: Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja stitched a partnership of 222 runs for the sixth wicket, which is the highest at the venue for the sixth wicket. The previous best belonged to Collie Smith and Frank Worrall (190 runs) in 1957.

Highest sixth wicket partnership for India in Test cricket: Rishabh Pant and Jadeja's stand of 222 runs is now the joint highest partnership for India for the sixth wicket in Test cricket in away matches. They share the top spot with Sachin Tendulkar and Mohammad Azharuddin, the duo achieving the feat in 1997.

Most appearances in the top 10 list for the sixth-wicket partnership for India: Rishabh Pant has now featured twice in the list of the highest sixth-wicket partnerships for India. On the other occasion, he was a part of a 204 runs partnership with KL Rahul in 2018. This is the most appearances by an Indian player in the top 10 list.

Youngest Indian cricketer to 100 sixes in international cricket: Rishabh Pant hit the 100th six of his international career. He has become the youngest Indian cricketer to achieve the feat at 24. The record previously belonged to Sachin Tendulkar, who achieved the feat at the age of 25.

Second fastest century for India on England soil: Rishabh Pant went past the three-figure mark in the innings in only 89 deliveries. Azharuddin scored the fastest ton on English soil back in 1990 in 87 deliveries.

Second highest score by a wicket-keeper batter at Edgbaston: Rishabh's score of 146 runs is now the second highest by any wicket-keeper batter at Edgbaston. Australian legend Adam Gilchrist topped the chart, scoring 152 runs in an innings in 2001.