England captain Ben Stokes has made headlines ahead of the second Test at Edgbaston not for strategy or selection, but for a heartfelt compliment.
And it was directed at none other than India’s unpredictable and explosive wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant. In a rare show of praise from a rival captain.
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Stokes said, “Even though he’s my opposition, I absolutely love watching Rishabh play cricket. I love the way he takes it on, in all formats of the game.”
The praise didn’t come out of nowhere. Pant was the standout performer in the previous Test at Headingley, where he pulled off a rare feat in cricket history.
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He scored 134 in the first innings and followed it with 118 in the second. That made him only the second wicketkeeper in Test history to hit centuries in both innings against England.
Pant wasn’t alone. Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, and Shubman Gill also scored hundreds. India looked in full control, piling up runs across both innings.
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But England had other plans. Led by Ollie Pope, Ben Duckett, and a fighting 99 from Harry Brook, they chased down the target on Day 5 and won the match by five wickets.
Stokes didn’t just stop at saying he enjoys watching Pant. He also acknowledged how critics once doubted Pant’s style.
He said, “He got stick in his time, but when you let that type of talent be free, that’s what can happen like last week. Credit to him for two hundreds in the game.”
Stokes also admitted that Pant’s aggressive style gives England chances to get him out.
“We know we’re going to get our chances, with the way Rishabh plays. On a different day, it could have looked a little bit different if one of those had gone straight up and into hands. But yeah, he is a very dangerous player.”
He ended by repeating his admiration: “We know what he brings to the Indian team, but I really enjoy watching Rishabh play cricket.”
While many fans praised Stokes for speaking from the heart, others had a different kind of reaction.
Social media lit up with posts imagining how Gautam Gambhir might have responded to the same question.
Known for his serious, team-first mindset, Gambhir has often avoided praising individual brilliance too much.
Fans joked: “If it had been asked to GG, he would have replied there are other batters too who are great to watch.”
Another fan added, “Coaches are crying again,” poking fun at how Pant’s fearless batting sometimes makes traditional thinkers uncomfortable.
This has sparked a fun but interesting debate. On one side, there’s Stokes who celebrates Pant’s natural talent and unpredictability, even as a rival.
On the other, there’s the more traditional viewpoint that may value control, consistency and structure over flair.
Neither is wrong but the contrast is clear. Stokes likes Pant’s risk taking style, others like Gambhir (as fans imagine) might focus on the bigger picture or balance.
Whether loved or hated one thing is clear Rishabh Pant makes people talk. His fearless batting has made him a game changer and now even opponents are openly admiring his style.
Stokes’ praise shows Pant is more than just a wild hitter. He’s someone who has earned respect across the cricketing world.
And while fans will continue to joke about how GG might’ve answered, Pant will keep doing what he does best play his game, take risks and entertain everyone watching. Even the opposition captain.
