Rishabh Pant breaks Kapil Dev’s record for fastest 50 by an Indian in Test cricket
Dashing wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has broken Kapil Dev’s record for the fastest 50 by an Indian in Test cricket. The left-hander achieved the feat during Day 2 of the pink ball Test against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.
The 24-year-old needed only 28 deliveries to reach his half-century in India’s second innings on Sunday. He smacked seven fours and two sixes as the hosts’ lead swelled past the 300-run mark. Kapil Dev had notched up a half-century off only 30 deliveries against Pakistan in Karachi in 1982.
All-rounder Shardul Thakur (31 deliveries vs England at The Oval in 2021) and Virender Sehwag (32 deliveries vs England in Chennai in 2008) are behind Dev on the list.
Rishabh Pant brought the fireworks to Bengaluru 🎇
He is out caught and bowled after scoring the fastest Test fifty by an Indian off just 28 balls 🔥
#WTC23 | #INDvSL | bit.ly/INDvSL-Test2 https://t.co/8lO8F0BC6p
The 24-year-old’s effort on Sunday is also the fastest half-century recorded in a Test in India after Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi (26 deliveries) and England’s Ian Botham (28 deliveries).
The wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed immediately after reaching his fifty when he failed in an attempt to take on Praveen Jayawickrama. The left-hander offered a skier that was gleefully accepted by the bowler.
Rishabh Pant shines in tough Test for batters
Before his record-breaking effort on Sunday, Pant had shone on Day 1 of the pink ball Test as well.
After India opted to bat first on winning the toss, they crumbled to 86-4. However, Pant took on the Lankan bowlers, making a crucial 39 off only 26 deliveries with the aid of seven fours. Following his dismissal, Shreyas Iyer’s brilliant 98-ball 92 lifted the hosts to 252.
Team India’s bowlers reduced Sri Lanka to 86-6 by stumps on Day 1. They needed only 5.5 overs to claim the remaining four Lankan wickets on Day 2. The visitors were cleaned up for 109 as Jasprit Bumrah claimed a five-wicket haul, his first in a Test innings on Indian soil.
Fastest 50s for India in Test cricket (balls faced) :
Rishabh Pant vs SL, Bengaluru 2022 * : 28 balls
Kapil Dev vs Pak, Karachi 1982 : 30 balls
Shardul Thakur vs Eng, Oval 2021 : 31 balls
Sehwag vs Eng, Chennai 2008 : 32 balls
#INDvSL
India got off to a good start in their second innings, with Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma adding 42 runs for the opening wicket.
Lasith Embuldeniya got the breakthrough when Agarwal (22) edged one to gully. Rohit Sharma (46) and Hanuma Vihari (35) again perished after getting starts while Virat Kohli was trapped lbw by Jayawickrama for 13.