India’s Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant continues to showcase why he is not only a great batter and agile wicketkeeper but also a master at using psychological tactics to unsettle opponents. On Day 3 of the Headingley Test, Pant’s sharp wit and calculated chirping played a key role in a crucial breakthrough for India.
Rishabh Pant’s mind games unsettle England captain Ben Stokes at a critical juncture
England captain Ben Stokes had just walked in at a delicate moment, with the score at 225/4 and India looking to claw their way back into the game after Ollie Pope’s century. As Ravindra Jadeja sent down a sharply turning delivery outside off stump in the 64th over, Stokes, showing restraint, chose not to play at it. But Pant, standing behind the stumps, couldn’t resist. In a moment that was clearly caught on the stump mic, Pant remarked cheekily, ‘Sensible Stokesy,’ in a tone laced with mock praise and mischief. Though Stokes appeared composed outwardly, the timing and tone of the comment seemed to plant a seed of doubt.
Only four deliveries after Pant’s subtle sledge, Mohammed Siraj produced a perfect setup to complete the plan. Bowling from around the wicket, Siraj delivered a length ball that angled into Stokes and then nipped away slightly. Attempting to punch it through the offside with a firm hand, Stokes got a thick outside edge that flew straight into the gloves of a waiting Pant. The dismissal, while a product of Siraj’s skill and execution, bore the fingerprints of Pant’s psychological maneuvering just moments earlier.
Stokes, who had been playing cautiously and had struck three boundaries in his 52-ball stay, never quite settled at the crease. His 51-run stand with Harry Brook had offered England some solidity after Pope’s dismissal, but Pant’s timely intervention disrupted the balance.
Here’s the video:
“Sensible, Stokesy!” 😁
Peak mind games, peak Rishabh-Panti, peak Test Cricket! 🥶
ICYMI, watch @RishabhPant17’s ploy that eventually dismissed the English skipper #BenStokes! 🙌#ENGvIND 1st Test, Day 3 LIVE NOW | Streaming on JioHotstar 👉 https://t.co/SIJ5ri9N8a pic.twitter.com/PdSNTCMZBz
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 22, 2025
Also WATCH: ENG vs IND: Mohammed Siraj and Harry Brook engage in a fierce verbal exchange on Day 3 of the Headingley Test
Harry Brook’s heartbreak on 99 and England’s collapse gives India a narrow edge
If Stokes’ dismissal rattled England, what followed was even more dramatic. Brook, who was inching toward a well-deserved century, fell agonizingly short of the milestone. The crowd at Headingley was stunned into silence as Brook fell for 99, a bitter end to an otherwise composed and aggressive innings. Despite resistance from the lower order, England were bowled out for 466, managing to nearly match India’s first-innings total of 471 but missing a real opportunity to seize the lead.
While Pant’s brilliance behind the stumps added spark to the day, it was Jasprit Bumrah who stood tall as the standout bowler in the Test. With figures of 5/83, Bumrah secured his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and, in the process, reinforced why he is widely regarded as the finest fast bowler in the world right now. By the end of a roller-coaster third day, India found themselves with a narrow but significant lead of 96 runs, having reached 90/2 in their second innings. KL Rahul played a composed knock and was unbeaten on 47 when rain halted play, with captain Shubman Gill on 6 at the other end.
Also WATCH: Jasprit Bumrah cleans up Josh Tongue to break the record for most Test five-wicket hauls by an Indian bowler in England
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