'Reporting for national duty': Pant poses in whites ahead of England Tests

IANS June 12, 2025 415 views

Rishabh Pant is ready to represent India in the upcoming five-Test series against England, hoping to bounce back from his recent performances in Australia. The series marks a significant transition for Indian cricket, with new leadership under Shubman Gill and the absence of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Pant brings valuable experience, having played 12 Tests against England and scoring 781 runs previously. India's ultimate goal is to break a 16-year drought and win a Test series in England.

"Reporting for national duty" - Rishabh Pant
'Reporting for national duty': Pant poses in whites ahead of England Tests
New Delhi, June 12: India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has expressed his excitement for the upcoming five-Test series against England, sharing a picture of himself donning a Test jersey on social media.

Key Points

1

India seeks first Test series win in England since 2007

2

Pant looks to improve after challenging Australia series

3

New leadership under Shubman Gill begins historic WTC cycle

Pant took to X and posted his picture in Test whites with the caption, "Reporting for national duty."

Pant, who made his Test debut in England in 2018, has played 12 games against England and scored 781 runs with a highest score of 146 which came in 2022 in Birmingham. Off the 12 games, he played nine on English soil, scoring 556 runs at an average of 32.70.

Pant, however, had struggled the last time India played Tests – in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In Australia, he played all five Tests and scored 255 runs at an average of 28.33, including just one half-century.

Team India touched down in the UK on June 7 and had wasted no time as they dived straight into intense training sessions, kickstarting their preparations for the five-Test showdown that marks the beginning of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle for both teams.

This series also signals the start of a new era for Indian cricket, following the Test retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Led by Shubman Gill, India will face England in the first Test of the five-match series at the Headingley Cricket Ground from June 20. The second Test will be played at Edgbaston from July 2 while the third Test will be held at the iconic Lord’s beginning on July 10.

Both India and England will later travel to Manchester for the fourth Test to be played at Old Trafford from July 23, before concluding the Test series at the Kennington Oval in London starting on July 31.

India are aiming to win a Test series in England for the first time since 2007.

Reader Comments

A
Arjun P.
So excited to see Pant back in whites! 🏏 His aggressive batting can change the game in England. Hope he finds his 2022 Birmingham form again. This young team needs his experience now that Kohli and Rohit have retired. #PantFire
P
Priya M.
While I love Pant's energy, I'm a bit worried about his recent Test form. The Australia series was disappointing. Hope he's worked on his shot selection - England bowlers will exploit any weakness. Still, best wishes to Team India!
R
Rahul K.
This photo gave me goosebumps! Nothing like seeing our boys in Test whites. Pant has always performed well in England conditions. With Gill as captain and new talent coming up, this could be our best chance to win a series there after 18 years!
S
Sneha T.
The transition phase will be challenging without our senior players, but players like Pant must step up. His keeping will be crucial against England's swing bowling. Hope he's been practicing against the moving ball. Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
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Vikram S.
Pant's social media game is as aggressive as his batting! 😂 On a serious note, hope he balances his natural game with some patience in English conditions. We need big scores from our middle order. The Lord's Test will be the real test!

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