Rishabh Pant Shatters MS Dhoni's Record, Celebrates Century With Iconic Somersault At Headingley | WATCH

India's vice-captain Rishabh Pant made a sensational start to the five-match Test series against England, notching up his seventh century in the longest format on Day 2 of the first Test at Headingley, Leeds.

The left-hander combined measured restraint with trademark flair to thwart the English bowling line-up of Ben Stokes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, and Shoaib Bashir.

Photo Credit: AP/PTI

With this ton, Pant now holds the record for the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter, surpassing MS Dhoni, who had six.

He has now equalled the likes of England's Matt Prior, Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, South Africa's AB de Villiers, and New Zealand's BJ Watling for the most Test hundreds by a wicketkeeper.

Pant also holds the record for the most centuries by a visiting wicketkeeper in England. He now has three Test centuries in the UK - no other overseas wicketkeeper has scored more than one.

The 27-year-old brought up his century off Shoaib Bashir, reaching the landmark in 146 deliveries. He completed the ton in spectacular fashion with a one-handed six over the boundary, much to the delight of the crowd at Headingley.

Soaking in the applause, Pant celebrated with a somersault, drawing huge cheers from the Leeds crowd.

"One of the best hundred celebrations I have seen in my entire life," remarked Ian Ward on commentary.

Pant had walked in during the final session of Day 1 and made his attacking intent clear from the outset, dancing down the track to Ben Stokes on just his second ball and dispatching him for four.

Commenting on the audacious shot, Dinesh Karthik said on Sky Sports, "Outrageous. There's a difference between sexy and silly. It is going to look sexy when it comes off and silly when it doesn't."

Despite the aggressive start, Pant then settled into a cautious rhythm, playing a series of solid defensive strokes.

It was only after Shubman Gill brought up his century that Pant switched gears, launching into an array of attacking shots and taking the England bowlers apart. Even in the closing overs of Day 1, he didn't shy away from playing big aerial strokes.

Resuming on 65 not out the next day, Pant carried on in similar fashion, showing intent against Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes with attacking strokeplay.

Gavaskar on Pant

Speaking on Sony Sports, cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar praised Pant's instinctive style, saying that using his feet early in the innings gives him a sense of freedom.

"It seems like that's how he plays. When he comes in to bat, on the second or third ball, he often uses his feet and hits a boundary. It makes him feel free and then allows him to play the way he wants," Gavaskar said.

"Over here, he's been measured in his approach, giving himself time out in the middle. But once he's in and the bowlers start to tire, that's when he begins to step down the pitch and really attack, hitting big shots, sixes, and boundaries," he added.

India, having been put in to bat, are firmly in control of the first Test. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal laid a solid foundation with a 91-run opening partnership. Jaiswal and Gill then built on that momentum with commanding centuries of their own.