Rishabh Pant has surpassed MS Dhoni to become India’s highest run-scorer as a designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests. He achieved the milestone during the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Rishabh Pant has just rewritten the history books of Indian cricket. He has now become the Indian wicketkeeper with the most Test runs in away or neutral venues, breaking a record held by none other than the great MS Dhoni. Pant achieved this incredible feat during the second Test match against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Pant goes past Dhoni’s record
Before this match, Dhoni was on top with 2,496 runs. Pant has now gone past him, reaching 2,501 runs with a fantastic average of 41.68. The list also includes legends like Farokh Engineer (1,209 runs), Syed Kirmani (1,109 runs), and Kiran More (901 runs) in the following spots.
Injury scare on Day 1
On the first day of the Test, Pant had to leave the field as ‘retired hurt’. A short ball from Sri Lankan pacer Lahiru Kumara hit him hard on the left hand when he tried to play a pull shot.
The pain was immediate. The Indian team’s physio rushed out to help, first with an ice pack and then a bandage. But the pain didn’t go away, and the bandage was eventually removed.
A brave half-century despite the pain
He was on 3 runs from 15 balls when he walked off with the physio in the 58th over. But Pant is a fighter. He came back to bat today, on Day 2, after Saransh Jain was dismissed for 6 runs. He joined Dhruv Jurel at the crease and started rebuilding the innings. The Sri Lankan pacers kept testing him with short balls, and some even hit his shoulder. But Pant didn’t back down and scored a brilliant half-century.
India in a strong position
He played an aggressive knock of 63 runs from 89 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes, before getting out. He and Dhruv Jurel, who scored a supportive half-century and is still batting on 59, put on a crucial 112-run partnership for the seventh wicket. As of now, India is in a strong position at 419 for 7.
Fans and former cricketers are all praising Rishabh Pant for his courage and for putting the team first despite his injury.