Rishabh Pant equals MS Dhoni's Test tons record, on track to be India's greatest wicketkeeper

Published - 21 Sep 2024, 01:56 PM | Updated - 21 Sep 2024, 01:58 PM

Rishabh Pant MS Dhoni
Rishabh Pant MS Dhoni (Image Credits: X)

India's star wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant has achieved another milestone in Test cricket. During the second innings of the first Test between India and Bangladesh in Chennai, Pant smashed a brilliant hundred to take his side to a dominating position.

Pant scored 109 off 128 balls which included 13 fours and 4 sixes. This was his sixth Test hundred and with this knock, he equalled the great MS Dhoni as well. Dhoni also scored 6 hundreds in his 90-match Test career.

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Rishabh Pant equals MS Dhoni

While MS Dhoni scored six hundreds in 90 Tests, Pant's sixth Test hundred has come in just the 33rd Test match of his career. Along with scoring 6 hundreds, he also has 11 fifties to his name. It shows his great conversion rate after getting past fifty.

With this hundred, Pant also has the most joint-most Test hundreds for an Indian wicketkeeper along with MS Dhoni. He is just 26 right now and is likely to achieve many more records for India and for himself in the future.

Dhoni is regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers to have ever played the game. While his record in white-ball cricket is impeccable, he has good stats in Test cricket as well. In 90 Tests, he scored 4876 runs at an average of 38.09 with 6 hundreds and 33 fifties.

Rishabh Pant's unique milestones

Rishabh Pant made his Test debut against England at Nottingham in 2018. Since then, he has established himself as a mainstay in India's Test side. While his home record is excellent, his brilliance lies in overseas conditions where most of the Indian batters have struggled over time.

The 26-year-old already has five hundreds to his name in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia). He is the only Indian wicketkeeper-batter to achieve this feat. He has scored hundreds against top-quality attacks in their own conditions.

Rishabh Pant's strength lies in backing his ability to play the game his way. He believes in playing positively which has been his trademark way of batting in his career so far.

In Test cricket, his excellence has already won India a no. of historic matches like the famous win at the Gabba during the 2020-21 tour of Australia. He scored an unbeaten 89 in the second innings to take India to a memorable victory over the Aussies.

Rishabh Pant's knock takes India into ascendency

In the ongoing Test, Pant scored an enterprising 39 off 52 balls in the first innings. He came in a precarious situation with India at 34-3. But his attacking display put back the pressure on Bangladesh's bowlers. However, he could not reach his fifty.

But Rishabh Pant ensured to score big in the second innings. He started his innings positively late on Day 2. He took his time early on Day 3 but started playing his shots as he settled at the crease. The left-hander did not spare any bowler and went on to complete his sixth Test ton. This was Pant's first Test since his life-threatening accident in December 2022.

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India National Cricket Team Bangladesh National Cricket Team IND vs BAN 2024 India vs Bangladesh 2024 Bangladesh vs India BAN vs IND Bangladesh tour of India 2024 Rishabh Pant MS Dhoni India vs Bangladesh