Young Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant grabbed the news yet again, after scoring the fastest century in Ranji Trophy history on Tuesday.

Pant’s century – in just 48 balls – is the second fastest first-class hundred on Indian soil, only bettered by Ian Botham. The former English all-rounder had scored a century in just 45 deliveries while playing for English XI against Central Zone in 1982.

Speaking to bcci.tv, the 19-year-old mentioned that Jharkhand’s decision to enforce the follow on was the main motivation behind his knock.

Delhi were asked to follow on after they conceded a 159-run lead in the first innings. In four-day Ranji Trophy matches, the minimum margin to enforce a follow on is 150 runs and not 200 which is the mark in Test cricket.

“They had enforced the follow on, you feel bad obviously. I felt bad, and the thought was at the back of my mind …that they have enforced a follow on, but you can’t give it to them that easily. They should feel that they have committed an error,” Pant said.

“So, the thought in my mind was, how to make them feel they have erred. I was positive and I was batting well, so I took full advantage of it. When I got the opportunity I scored. I took the initiative.”

The wicket-keeper batsman has had a dream Ranji season so far. In five matches, he has notched up 799 runs at an average of 114.14 with an astounding strike rate of 113.01, which included two twin centuries in the match against Jharkhand.

“As a cricketer I am happy (to have scored back-to-back centuries), but if we had got that first innings lead then I would have been happier,” Pant added.

“If your runs are for a winning cause you feel better. I did save the game, but there is a difference between a winning cause and saving the game. In Mumbai too, we had conceded the first innings lead (when he scored his maiden triple-hundred). I still feel the hurt within.”

Meanwhile, former Himachal Pradesh cricketer Shakti Singh, has disputed the record by stating that he scored a century in just 42 deliveries against Haryana during the 1990-91 Ranji Season. He said his innings isn’t in the record books because there were no official scorers at the ground that day.