Rishabh Pant equals MS Dhoni's record for most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper
Rishabh Pant has equaled former Indian captain MS Dhoni’s record for the most Test centuries by a wicketkeeper. He achieved this milestone on Day 3 of the first Test in the two-match series against Bangladesh on Saturday, September 21, at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
At stumps on Day 2, Pant was on 12 runs off 13 balls. He began Day 3 by taking calculated risks and continued building his innings alongside Shubman Gill. Pant reached his fifty in 88 balls and then accelerated, scoring his next fifty runs in just 35 balls to complete his sixth Test century in 123 deliveries, thus matching Dhoni’s record.
Pant accomplished this feat in only 58 innings, while Dhoni ended his career with six centuries in 144. Wriddhiman Saha is third on the list with three centuries in 56 innings. Pant’s impressive performance saw him finish with 109 runs off 128 balls, including 13 fours and four sixes, as India took control of the Test match.
“Rishabh Pant is a rare gem” - Sanjay Manjrekar hails the left-hander for his brilliant knock
Rishabh Pant marked a triumphant return to Test cricket with a brilliant century in his first match after over a year and a half. His last appearance was in late December 2022 against Bangladesh, just before he suffered a near-fatal car accident. Now, the left-hander has made a remarkable comeback, drawing admiration from former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, who said on X:
“Was an enigma for me to begin with, but once clearly understood, have realised that Rishabh Pant is a rare gem! Hail the Indian grass root system that produced him.”
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill brought up his century, finishing unbeaten on 119 runs off 176 balls, featuring 10 fours and four sixes. The hosts declared their second innings at 287/4 after 64 overs, setting Bangladesh a daunting target of 515 runs.