Rishabh Pant: The Rising Star of Indian Test Cricket
A New Era in Indian Cricket
On August 18, 2018, a decade after Virat Kohli made his mark in international cricket, another talent from Delhi, Rishabh Pant, emerged as a key player for India, stepping into the significant role of wicketkeeper-batter previously held by the legendary MS Dhoni.
Having shown promise in white-ball formats since his 2017 debut, Pant received his first Test cap during a match against England in Nottingham. His inaugural scoring shot was a six off Adil Rashid, foreshadowing an exciting journey ahead. Since then, Pant has captivated Indian fans with his aggressive batting style, often rescuing his team with explosive innings, though his audacity has sometimes drawn criticism from traditionalists who favor a more conservative approach to Test cricket.
Impressive Test Career Stats
To date, Pant has participated in 47 Test matches for India, amassing 3,427 runs across 82 innings, boasting an average of 44.50 and a strike rate of 74.16. His record includes eight centuries and 18 fifties, with a personal best of 159 not out.
Dominance in SENA Countries
Pant has established himself as Asia's leading wicketkeeper-batter in the challenging SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) nations. In 30 Tests played in these countries, he has scored 2,160 runs at an average of 41.53, including six centuries and eight fifties, surpassing his Asian peers in both runs and centuries under these demanding conditions.
Remarkably, only two of his eight centuries have been scored in India, with four in England and one each in South Africa and Australia, facing some of the world's toughest bowling attacks.
He has also set a record for the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper, surpassing MS Dhoni during the recent England tour.
Historic Achievements
During the Leeds Test, Pant became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score twin centuries in a match, a feat previously achieved by Andy Flower against South Africa in 2001. This milestone signifies a notable evolution in India's cricketing approach.
A Fearless Six-Hitter
Pant has matched the legendary Virender Sehwag with 90 sixes, with 73 of these coming during the World Test Championship (WTC). He ranks as the second-best six-hitter in WTC history, trailing only England's Ben Stokes.
Leading Run-Scorer in ICC WTC
As the top run-scorer for India in the ICC World Test Championship, Pant concluded the English summer with 2,731 runs, edging out former captain Rohit Sharma's 2,716 runs. His average stands at 43.34, with a strike rate of 74.25, including six centuries and 16 fifties, making him the 11th highest run-scorer in the competition's history.