The Indian cricket team is currently touring Sri Lanka, leading the series 1-0 after securing a victory in the opening Test. The second fixture commenced on August 23, with the visiting side putting up a solid total of 300 runs for the loss of 5 wickets on the opening day. Devdutt Padikkal starred with a magnificent century, marking his second consecutive ton on Sri Lankan soil. However, the first day also brought some anxious moments for the camp during the closing session.
Rishabh Pant was forced to retire hurt after taking a sharp blow on his wrist bone while attempting to hit a six. Having faced just 15 deliveries and scoring 3 runs, he looked in visible discomfort before walking off the field. Despite this setback, the gritty left-hander returned to action when his team needed him on the second day.
Rishabh Pant Overtakes MS Dhoni
Following the early dismissal of Saransh Jain on Day 2, Pant walked back to the crease and played a cautious yet effective knock to bring up his half-century. During this innings, he achieved a historic milestone by breaking a long-standing record held by former captain MS Dhoni. Pant is now the leading run-scorer for India among wicketkeeper-batsmen in away and neutral Test matches. He reached this milestone in just his 36th Test, whereas Dhoni took 48 Tests to accomplish the feat.
Records indicate that Rishabh Pant now has over 2500 runs from 64 innings across 48 away and neutral Tests, maintaining an impressive batting average of over 41. In comparison, Dhoni scored 2496 runs in 83 innings across 48 Tests at an average exceeding 32.84. Farokh Engineer occupies the third position among Indian wicketkeepers with the most runs in away and neutral fixtures.
Most Runs by Indian Wicketkeepers in Away and Neutral Tests
- 2502 - Rishabh Pant
- 2496 - MS Dhoni
- 1209 - Farokh Engineer
- 1109 - Syed Kirmani
Furthermore, Rishabh Pant holds the record for scoring the most Test centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper outside home conditions, having struck 6 overseas tons. In terms of overall Test runs by Indian wicketkeepers, Pant currently stands second on the all-time list, trailing only MS Dhoni, though a significant gap remains between the two.
Most Runs by Indian Wicketkeepers in Test Cricket
- MS Dhoni - 4876
- Rishabh Pant - 3706
- Syed Kirmani - 2759
