Rishabh Pant went past MS Dhoni on Friday to become the most successful Indian keeper-batter in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) conditions. The southpaw stayed unbeaten on 65 runs at the end of play on Day 1 as India dominated England in ENG vs IND 1st Test. Pant slammed his 4th fifty in England, his knock studded with six fours and two sixes.
Pant suprasses Dhoni
Previously, Dhoni held the record for being the most successful Indian keeper-batter in SENA countries in terms of runs. Pant needed just 50 runs to overtake the former Indian captain, who had 1731 runs to his name, on the elite list and he did so in style on Day 1 of ENG vs IND 1st Test. He is also the highest run-scorer among Asian keeper-batters in SENA countries now.
Pant became the th Indian wicketkeeper to cross 3000 runs in Tests. Prior to the southpaw, only 3 others managed to achieve this feat – Farokh Engineer, Syed Kirmani and MS Dhoni.
The Indian vice-captain is now eyeing to break another record – most number of centuries by an Indian keeper-batter. At present, both Dhoni and Pant have six Test centuries to their name. The southpaw will have a golden opprtunity to create yet another record on Day 2 when he will resume batting on 65.
ENG vs IND 1st Test, Day 1
India ended Day 1 at 359/3 with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant adding an unbeaten 130-run stand. Gill remained not out on 127 while Pant scored 65 not out. It was one-way traffic in Leeds on Day 1 as Gill hit a century after Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Indian openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal troubled the English bowlers with a 91-run stand. But just at the stroke of Lunch, England claimed the wicket of Rahul. He departed for 42. Debutant Sai Sudharsan followed soon on a duck. But with Pant and Gill adding an unbeaten stand, India ended Day 1 on a high.
