India, June 21 -- With the sunset casting shadows at Headingley, Rishabh Pant did what only Rishabh Pant can dare to do. It was the final over of Day 1 in the first Test at Headingley, a time when most batters would bunker down and play out the day. But not Pant. With India sitting pretty at 351/3, Pant danced down the track to a length delivery from Chris Woakes and dispatched it cleanly over deep square leg for six.

Woakes stood there in stunned amusement. So did England captain Ben Stokes, who could only smile in disbelief. But the best reaction came moments later, and not from the field. As Pant climbed up the Headingley steps to return unbeaten on 65, KL Rahul, standing near the entrance of the dressing room, folded his hands and bo...