Colombo: Rishabh Pant added another major achievement to his Test career on Monday, surpassing MS Dhoni’s record for the most runs by an Indian designated wicketkeeper batter in away Tests.
Pant returned to the crease during the second day of India’s ongoing Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club after retiring hurt with three runs on the opening day. He made an immediate impact, scoring an unbeaten 63 from 88 balls during the morning session.
The half-century came off 81 deliveries and took Pant’s career tally in away Tests as a designated wicketkeeper batter beyond Dhoni’s previous mark of 2,496 runs. Pant reached 2,534 not out in his 36th away Test.
Dhoni had accumulated his 2,496 runs across 48 away Tests between 2006 and 2014. Pant has achieved the record in fewer matches and has also registered six centuries and 11 fifties in these games.
Pant’s latest milestone places him third on the overall list for runs by designated wicketkeeper batters in away Tests. Pakistan’s Sarfaraz Ahmed leads the chart with 2,696 runs, followed by Australia great Adam Gilchrist with 2,634. Pant’s 2,534 runs have moved him ahead of South Africa’s Mark Boucher and Dhoni.
The 28 year old also has another significant landmark within reach in the World Test Championship. Pant entered the Test with 2,948 WTC runs, the highest tally by an Indian batter in the competition. With 63 runs already scored in the innings, he is closing in on the 3,000 run mark.
If Pant scores another 52 runs, he will become the first Indian and the first designated wicketkeeper batter in the world to reach 3,000 runs in the World Test Championship.
Pant currently leads India’s WTC run scorers ahead of Shubman Gill, who has 2,917 runs. His latest performance has once again underlined his importance to India’s Test batting lineup and his ability to produce landmark performances away from home.
