Following a challenging IPL 2025 season with Lucknow Super Giants, both as captain and batter, Rishabh Pant now stands on the cusp of a significant Test cricket milestone. He has the chance to eclipse the legendary MS Dhoni and become India’s most prolific wicketkeeper-batter in challenging overseas conditions—specifically in South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia (SENA).
Since his Test debut in 2018, Pant’s aggressive and often unpredictable playing style, particularly away from home, has earned him a range of descriptors: “counterattacking,” “bold,” “audacious,” “stubborn,” “risky,” “foolish,” and even “match-turning.” His approach can swing wildly, leaving spectators awe-struck one moment with a brilliant stroke and then frustrated the next by a reckless shot that leads to his dismissal.
A testament to his adaptability in demanding environments, four of Pant’s six Test centuries have been scored in SENA countries. Fans who witnessed his previous tours to Australia and England will recall his unique method: initially playing a few deliveries cautiously for singles and doubles to gauge the pitch, before suddenly donning his ‘Spidey’ suit and unleashing unparalleled batting acrobatics.
Whether it involves tumbling to the ground mid-shot, his bat flying from his hand after an aerial strike, or an audacious one-handed six, Pant’s next move at the crease remains perpetually unpredictable. Securing one more century would elevate his Test century tally to seven, a record for an Indian wicketkeeper-batter, surpassing MS Dhoni’s six tons in the format.
All the best, Rishabh Pant!
