Comparing MS Dhoni and Rishabh Pant's Test record in India
Team India keeper-batter Rishabh Pant made a tremendous comeback to Test cricket in the match against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Playing his first red-ball game for India since December 2022, he contributed 39 off 52 in the first innings and followed it up with 109 off 128 in the second essay.
In both innings, the southpaw came in with India having lost early wickets and steadied the ship. The hosts were in big trouble at 34-3 on the opening day at Chepauk. Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal (56 off 118) added 62 for the fourth wicket before Ravichandran Ashwin (113) and Ravindra Jadeja (86) took the team past the 375-run mark.
In the second innings, India were three down for 67 inside 20 overs. Pant walked in and hammered 13 fours and four sixes, featuring in a fourth-wicket stand of 167 with Shubman Gill (119* off 176). The former has often been compared to MS Dhoni, whom the left-hander terms as his idol.
On that note, here's a comparative study of Pant and Dhoni's Test records in India.
Rishabh Pant vs MS Dhoni in home Tests
Of his 34 Tests, Pant has played only nine in India in which he has scored 787 runs at an average of 65.58 and an exceptional strike rate of 90.14, with two hundreds and six half-centuries. In comparison, he has 1,587 runs in 24 away Tests at an average of under 40, with four centuries.
Some of the prominent scores notched up by the left-handed batter in home Tests include 92 against West Indies in Rajkot (October 2018), 92 against West Indies in Hyderabad (October 2018), 91 against England in Chennai (February 2021), 101 against England in Ahmedabad (March 2021), and 96 versus Sri Lanka in Mohali (March 2022).
Shifting focus to Dhoni, he played 42 of his 90 Tests at home, notching up 2,380 runs at an average of 45.76, with five hundreds and 15 half-centuries. The former India captain's career-best Test score of 224 came against Australia in Chennai in February 2013.
Dhoni also scored 110 against the Sri Lankans in Ahmedabad (November 2009), 100* against Sri Lanka in Mumbai - Brabourne Stadium (December 2009), 132* against South Africa in Kolkata (February 2010), and 144 against West Indies in Kolkata (November 2011).
Pant vs Dhoni in home Tests: Stats in winning causes
Pant has featured in eight Test matches that India have won in home conditions. In these games, he has scored 685 runs at an average of 68.50, with two hundreds. Apart from his recent ton against Bangladesh in Chennai, his hundred in Ahmedabad against England in March 2021 also resulted in a victory for India. The southpaw also contributed 90s in triumphs over Sri Lanka and West Indies.
Dhoni featured in 25 Tests that India won in home conditions and had an excellent record in these matches. He notched up 1,632 runs at an average of 62.76, with four centuries. The right-handed batter's double ton against Australia in Chennai resulted in an eight-wicket win for India.
The former India stumper's centuries against Sri Lanka in Brabourne, Mumbai (December 2009), South Africa in Kolkata (February 2010) and West Indies in Kolkata (November 2011) also resulted in victories for the host nation.
Pant vs Dhoni in home Tests: Analyzing their performance against top teams
Pant has played four Tests against England at home, scoring 270 runs at an average of 54, with one hundred. He is yet to play a home Test against South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
In contrast, Dhoni played 10 Tests against Australia at home, scoring 679 runs at an average of 56.58, with one double ton. He featured in nine home Tests against England, but finished with a poor record, averaging under 28. Dhoni averaged 54.50 in five home Tests against the Kiwis, with a best of 98. Against the Proteas, he averaged 46.16, with one three-figure score to his name.
Undoubtedly, Pant has a much better record that Dhoni in Test matches at home as of now. But, it would be unfair to draw any conclusion based on current stats for the former has only played a handful of red-ball games for India at home. A better assessment of their records can be made when he faces bigger challenges and gets close to the number of Tests that Dhoni played at home during his career.