Sunil Gavaskar Drops New 'S' Word On Live TV in Excited Reaction to Rishabh Pant’s Record Century

Sunil Gavaskar had no shortage of praise for Rishabh Pant after the wicketkeeper-batter brought up his 7th Test century — and he did it in style, smashing a six off Shoaib Bashir on Day 2 of the first Test against England in Leeds. It was a moment of redemption, not just for Pant, but for Gavaskar too, who famously slammed the left-hander’s shot selection in 2020 during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne with a fiery “stupid, stupid, stupid” rant on ABC Radio.

But on Saturday, the legendary cricketer made a dramatic U-turn.

“Superb, superb, superb. Absolutely terrific by the young man,” Gavaskar said on air as Pant moved past MS Dhoni’s record for the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper. Pant’s latest century marked his third on English soil and sixth in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries — a remarkable feat considering he has just one at home.

Pant’s approach has always divided opinion. He’s fearless, even reckless at times, living by the sword and occasionally perishing by it — like in that infamous MCG innings where he top-edged a lap sweep straight to third man despite knowing the field was set for it.

That was then.

This time, at Headingley, Pant brought flair and maturity in equal measure. His innings was a masterclass in calculated aggression — he hit six sixes and 12 boundaries, thrilling the crowd and frustrating the English bowlers. It was vintage Pant, but with a measured start. He took his time, settled in, and then opened up as the bowlers began to tire.

“He gives himself that time early on, and that makes all the difference,” Gavaskar noted. “Once he's in, he starts walking down the pitch, playing those big shots, and doing it with such confidence. When he defends, it's like he’s telling the fast bowlers, ‘I’ve got all the time in the world.’”

Gavaskar acknowledged Pant’s rare talent — his ability to blend rock-solid defence with fearless attack. “He’s got enormous talent. I’ve seen him score stunning hundreds in South Africa and Australia. There’s always this perfect mix — he starts steady and then shifts gears like no one else.”

With this latest century, Pant also set himself apart in another way — no other visiting wicketkeeper-batter has scored more than one Test hundred in England. Pant now has three.

For a player who once drew harsh criticism from legends, it’s a powerful turnaround. And even Gavaskar, once one of his sternest critics, is now standing firmly in applause.