Rishabh Pant’s falling paddle sweep raised eyebrows once again, but this time it also drew praise from one of India’s greatest. Sachin Tendulkar, reflecting on Day 2 of the Headingley Test, lauded Pant's execution and intention behind the seemingly unorthodox shot. Writing on his X account, Tendulkar wrote, According to Tendulkar, Pant’s technique — crouching low while sweeping — allows him to get under the ball and guide it over the leg slip with remarkable control. The southpaw used the shot effectively to unsettle the English attack, particularly Shoaib Bashir. Pant, who scored a blazing 134 off 178 balls, added another Test century to his tally. His aggressive strokeplay — including six sixes — brought energy into India’s innings after a cautious start. Alongside him, Shubman Gill displayed tactical maturity, scoring 147 in what was only his first Test as captain. Writing on his X account, Tendulkar wrote, "Rishabh's falling paddle sweep is not accidental. It is intentional and extremely clever. Going down with the shot allows him to get under the ball and scoop it over leg slip with control." Read also: Watch: Rishabh Pant Runs Without Shoes Between Wickets Pant-Gill partnership rattles Bashir; Sachin reveals on-field tactics Beyond shot selection, Tendulkar highlighted a less visible aspect of the game — the chatter. During Bashir’s spell, both Pant and Gill were audibly conversing in Hindi between deliveries. Tendulkar noted. “Also noticed something interesting during Bashir’s spell. Shubman and Rishabh were speaking loudly in Hindi between deliveries. It wasn’t just casual talk. They were playing mind games with the bowler, trying to disrupt his rhythm. These minor details may not appear on the scoreboard, but they can have a significant impact on the game.” Rishabh's falling paddle sweep is not accidental. It is intentional and extremely clever. Going down with the shot allows him to get under the ball and scoop it over leg slip with control.Also noticed something interesting during Bashir’s spell. Shubman and Rishabh were… — Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) June 21, 2025 The pair's 209-run stand not only pushed India to 430/3 but also exposed the inexperience in England’s spin unit. However, their dismissals triggered a sudden collapse. From a commanding position, India folded for 471 as Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue shared four wickets each. The visitors failed to add significant runs after the fourth-wicket stand. In response, England ended Day 2 at 209/3 in 49 overs. Ollie Pope led the reply with a composed 100* off 131 balls. Ben Duckett added 62, while Zak Crawley fell early. Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming all three wickets. At stumps, Harry Brook was at the crease with Pope.