Rishabh Pant’s wait to play an innings of substance in international whiteball cricket got over on Sunday and he was mighty pleased with his effort. He arrived at the crease when India were two down for 21 after five overs in the third and final ODI in Manchester on Sunday. Then they were 72 for 4 in the 17th over.

England were right on top, but with Hardik Pandya’s approach giving him ample confidence, Pant brought his ‘A’ game into effect that eventually took India home with as many as 47 balls to spare and clinched them the series as well. “Hopefully, I’ll remember my first ODI century for the rest of my life,” Pant adjudged Man of the Match, said at the post-match presentation. “But when I was in there, I was just focusing on one ball at a time. When your team is under pressure and then you bat like that, that is what you aspire to do,” the wicketkeeper-batsman said about his unbeaten 125.

“I enjoy playing in England and will do whatever I can do to keep enjoying my cricket. The more cricket you play, the more experience you get,” he added. Pant was also effusive in his praise for India’s bowling group, which did a good job in restricting England to 259 on a batsman-friendly surface at Old Trafford. “It was the best pitch to bat on, so credit to our bowlers for keeping them to less than 260. They have been excellent all through the year,” Pant said.