Rishabh Pant made history on Day 4 of the first Test between India and New Zealand by becoming the fastest Indian wicketkeeper to reach 2,500 runs in Test cricket. The 26-year-old achieved the milestone in just 62 innings, surpassing the previous record held by MS Dhoni, who reached the mark in 69 innings. Rishabh Pant also outpaced the legendary Farokh Engineer, who took 82 innings to achieve the same feat.
Rishabh Pant’s record-breaking achievement came during India’s strong comeback at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, as they fought to narrow the deficit against New Zealand’s first-innings total of 469. India resumed play at 231/3, trailing by 125 runs, with Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan at the crease. Despite missing Day 3 due to a knee injury sustained while keeping, Rishabh Pant showed no signs of discomfort, demonstrating his usual attacking flair with a blistering knock of 53 from 56 balls.
Rishabh Pant’s innings began cautiously as he looked to settle in after an early wobble by the Indian batting lineup. However, once set, he unleashed his aggressive style, hammering New Zealand’s bowlers, including left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, whom he hit for two massive sixes. His fifty came in just 55 balls, a testament to his ability to turn the game in India’s favor. Rishabh Pant’s aggressive batting was complemented by Sarfaraz Khan, who played a crucial role with his maiden Test century.
Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz’s 113-run partnership in just 22 overs helped India recover from the early loss of wickets and push towards New Zealand’s total. By lunch, India had reached 344/3, trailing by just 12 runs. Rishabh Pant’s steady presence at the crease, alongside Sarfaraz’s stellar century, proved pivotal in India’s efforts to overhaul the New Zealand total.
Rishabh Pant’s rise in Test cricket since his debut in 2018 has been remarkable, with key performances in Australia and England that have earned him comparisons to MS Dhoni. However, with his own distinct style of aggressive batting and improving wicketkeeping skills, Rishabh Pant continues to carve out a legacy of his own in Indian cricket.
Rain interrupted play shortly after 11:00 am, forcing an early lunch with India in a strong position to build a sizeable lead as they aim for victory. With Pant and Sarfaraz still at the crease, the Indian team’s hopes for a win remain high as the match progresses.
