What Helped Rishabh Pant Regain Form After a Tough IPL 2025 Season?

Team India’s wicket keeper-batter Rishabh Pant has recently made history as he scored centuries in both innings of the first Test against England at Headingley in Leeds. This is a rare achievement in Test cricket. Pant became only the second wicketkeeper in the world to do this, with the first being the Zimbabwe legend Andy Flower.
Pant’s incredible form in Test cricket has come after a tough time in T20 cricket. He had a poor IPL 2025 season until the last match. In Lucknow Super Giants’ final league game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), the LSG Skipper came back with a bang and scored a brilliant 118* off just 61 balls at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.

Sadly, Pant ended up on the losing side in both matches. However, his performance has brought hope to his side, and it shows that Pant is back in form. This is good news not just for him, but also for Indian cricket.

Secret Behind Rishabh Pant Comeback

Pant’s return to form did not happen by chance. The secret behind Rishabh Pant comeback is his hard work. According to a report in The Times of India, the 27-year-old made many personal sacrifices from March this year as he wanted to fully focus on cricket. The report says Pant even deleted his WhatsApp and switched off his phone. He only turned it on when he needed to talk to someone.

India’s former strength and conditioning coach, Sohum Desai, spoke about Pant’s hard work. He said Pant worked harder than anyone else during the Champions Trophy. He was not in the playing XI for the tournament. but he kept training every single day. Rishabh Pant sacrifices finally worked in his favor as he started the Test series against England with a bang.

Desai shared, “He would pull me into the gym anytime he was free. He never worried about being tired or following rest plans. All he said was, ‘I need to work on myself.’”

Desai also remembered a special moment. On the day of the Champions Trophy final, Pant came to him and asked if he could take a day off. He looked guilty for not training. Desai told him that he had earned the rest. “He has so much energy in reserve now. That’s why he looked fresh even after keeping wickets and scoring two hundreds at Headingley,” said Desai.

Pant was not picked in India’s playing XI for the 2025 Champions Trophy. KL Rahul was chosen as the wicketkeeper instead, and India won the tournament with him behind the stumps. Pant is also no longer the first-choice keeper in T20Is. Sanju Samson is now preferred in that role. Despite this, the left-handed batter continues to be a key player in Test cricket.

Rishabh Pant Test Career

Rishabh Pant Test career has been magnificent so far. He has played 44 Test matches and has scored 3,200 runs at an average of 44.44. His strike rate is 74.03, and he has hit eight centuries and 15 fifties. He now holds the record for the most Test centuries (8) by an Indian wicketkeeper. He broke the record previously held by MS Dhoni, who had scored six Test hundreds.

Pant’s fearless style and big performances under pressure make him a special player. His latest achievement in Leeds has added another golden chapter to his career. Even though he is not in India’s white-ball plans right now, Pant is still a major force in the longer format.

With the next World Test Championship cycle underway, India will hope Pant continues his great form. His hunger, hard work, and talent make him one of India’s most important Test players.