ENG vs IND | Twitter in splits as Stokes cannot contain laughter after getting bashed by audacious Pant

India stamped their authority on the game in the second session of the opening Test against England, at Headingley on Friday, as Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal combined for 123 runs without losing a wicket to take the visitors to 215/2. The former brought up a quick 56-ball half-century while the latter cruised to a ton in his maiden knock on English soil but fell soon after Tea courtesy of a Ben Stokes ripper. The dismissal brought the Men in Blue’s vice-captain Rishabh Pant to the crease to join the skipper, and what followed was straight out of an action movie.

Pant, having garnered a reputation for his attacking brand of cricket, confidently defended the first ball before charging down the ground and banishing Stokes over his head for a resplendent boundary. The English skipper, having taken two scalps in the day and arguably came across as his side’s most threatening bowler, flinched as the Dukes flew towards him but once it had sailed to the boundary, the sequence of events dawned on him. Immediately, he broke out in full-blooded laughter evident through his cheeks wrinkled from the muscles stretching and eyes gleaming with joy, before walking over to Pant and sharing a few words.

The light-hearted moment, underlining a crucial battle that could dictate both teams’ fortunes, was thoroughly enjoyed by Twitterati.

Captain!

Stokesy

Yup

Bang

Too good

Priceless

2nd ball four

Ultra attacking

Superb

Laughed