Pant’s blistering hundred, one adorned by a fearless reverse sweep off James Anderson to go into the nineties, came with India losing half their side while still trailing behind England’s score by more than 80 runs.

The wicketkeeper batsman reached the landmark, his first hundred at home, with a thumping slog sweep for six off Joe Root. Soon after, while Pant stood acknowledging the crowds applause with his raised hands, the cameras panned towards Kohli. The skipper was seen jumping out of his seat to go out of the dressing room and halfway down the stairs to applaud Pant.

Kohli standing up for the younger lot in the team is not new. On day one, Kohli had got into a war of words with Ben Stokes after the England batsman swore at Mohammed Siraj.

Watch the video here:

Prince ‘Pant’ reaches his hundred with a six and this is how ‘Captain Kohli’ reacted. 😍 pic.twitter.com/X5XBxViQIa

— 𝐍𝐢𝐤𝐡𝐢𝐥 🇮🇳 (@nrcexe) March 5, 2021