Rishabh Pant breaks MS Dhoni's record to become fastest Indian wicketkeeper to score 2500 Test runs

Team India wicketkeeper batter Rishabh Pant has broken legendary cricketer MS Dhoni's record during the second innings of the first Test against New Zealand. Pant has become the fastest Indian wicketkeeper batter to complete 2500 runs in the longest format of international cricket.

On Day 2, Pant walked off the field after being hit on his right knee during New Zealand's first innings at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. He was hit on the same leg he had previously undergone surgery on. Dhruv Jurel kept wickets for the remainder of New Zealand's innings.

Rishabh Pant Breaks MS Dhoni Record During Second Innings

The left-handed batter came to bat at No. 5 alongside Sarfaraz in the morning on the fourth day of the match. He became the fastest Indian batter to complete 2,500 runs in Test cricket. Pant surpassed MS Dhoni, who achieved it in 69 innings. Farokh Engineer completed the feat in 82 innings.

Rishabh Pant leads the list of wicketkeepers with the most sixes in the World Test Championship, hitting 46 sixes in 47 innings for India. Quinton de Kock from South Africa smashed 14 sixes in 23 innings. Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan smashed 13 sixes in 51 innings, while Jos Buttler of England hit 11 sixes.

Rishabh Pant Reaches His 12th Test Fifty From Just 55 Balls

India resumed Day 4 at 231/3, trailing by 125 runs. Rishabh Pant and Sarfaraz Khan reduced the deficit and helped the team gain a lead over New Zealand. Pant appeared comfortable at the crease despite a knee injury. The southpaw started his innings with a cautious approach before starting acceleration.

The 26-year-old batter reached his 12th fifty in Test cricket from just 55 balls. He reached the milestone with a sumptuous cover drive off Glenn Phillips. He added a partnership of over 100 runs with Sarfaraz Khan in quick time, helping India recover and go past New Zealand's first-innings lead in the game.

Pant has the chance to convert this fifty into a seventh century in Test cricket. Earlier in the match, the wicketkeeper-batter scored 20 runs in India's first innings, where the team was bowled out for 46, their lowest total on home soil and third-lowest overall in the history of red ball international cricket.

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