In March 2024, Rishabh Pant returned to competitive cricket after spending 15 months away from the sport. There were doubts regarding his fitness. Whether he’ll be able to keep wickets. How will his knee react to the grind of international cricket? In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, Pant scored 446 runs. No other Delhi Capitals (DC) batter even scored 400.
Rishabh Pant in the last 13 months
His strike rate was a good 155.40. Considering he was batting in the middle order, it was great. All doubts were relinquished. And soon the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) brought him back to the fold. He won the T20 World Cup 2024, but his performance wasn’t great.
We moved to the Test arena in September. Pant’s best format. And the results were great. On spinning pitches, his wicketkeeper was good. He scored a hundred on his Test return against Bangladesh and, in the next four Test matches, scored 3 half-centuries as well.
And so, there were high hopes for Pant when India travelled to Australia. Things didn’t pan out well. He scored just 1 fifty in 9 innings. And amassed just 255 runs at 28.33. Pant had found most success in Australia. His most memorable performance, Gabba 2021, was Down Under. And he’d made a name for himself in the 2018-19 tour prior.
In fairness, it was a bowling-dominated series. And usually, Pant does well when the chips are down. This time that didn’t happen. And some raised concerns over Pant. He hadn’t done well across formats. Especially by his standards. In the 2024-25 season, Pant played 10 Tests. The most he’s ever played in a season. But his numbers weren’t good. By the benchmark he himself set.
Rishabh Pant’s stats since returning from injury
| Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 19 | 677 | 37.61 | 73.58 | 1 | 4 |
| T20I | 10 | 222 | 27.75 | 132.84 | 0 | 1 |
| ODI | 1 | 6 | 6 | 66.66 | – | – |
Form woes, across formats & events
And then he didn’t play a match for 3 months. Pant travelled with Team India against England for the ODI series and then to Dubai for the Champions Trophy. He won another ICC trophy, but this time his contribution was even less. So when he joined Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the IPL 2025 season, it wasn’t a shock that his bat was silent.
Pant’s form wasn’t great for a few months, and on top of that, he had to warm the bench as KL Rahul holds the position of ODI wicketkeeper. Game after game, Pant has failed for Lucknow. 8 times, he’s batted. And he’s got just 3 double-digit scores. He scored a painful fifty against Chennai Super Kings and came to bat at number 7 against Delhi Capitals.
The last time he came to bat at this position was in 2016. He decided he’d rather bring in the impact substitute, Ayush Badoni, and make his play ahead of himself. That’s how low his confidence is. Knowing his talent. Pant will bounce back. There is no doubt about that. But how long will it take for him to regain his lost confidence?
Why India needs Rishabh Pant in England
From BCCI’s point of view, the wicketkeeper’s form is a major concern. They are planning for the India vs England Test series. And Pant is a vital cog in India’s red-ball machine. One mustn’t forget that from 2020 onwards, he was the best batter the team had away from home and often even at home.
Pant’s got a great track record against England as well. Half of his Test hundreds have come against them. And he’s scored 2 tons in England. His 114 at The Oval in 2018 was what made him known. And he hasn’t stopped growing from there.
The last time India toured England, Pant was the second-highest scorer for India. Only Rohit Sharma amassed more runs, 368 to 349, and that too by not much. He’s someone who’s bailed India out of trouble a fair few times. And as it often happens, when the top order fails, Pant holds the fort.
His aggression makes life tough for oppositions. That’s why he succeeded when batting alongside Cheteshwar Pujara. Teams are uncertain what he’ll do. They worry about him, and his partners can cash in. Of course, more than a fair few times, he cashes in as well.
The pressure will be on. Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir lost a first Test series at home in 12 years. And then lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade. They need to do something. And for that they need Rishabh Pant in form and at his destructive best.
Rishabh Pant’s record against England in Test cricket
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 12 | 21 | 781 | 39.05 | 74.45 | 3 | 4 |
| In England | 9 | 17 | 556 | 32.70 | 66.34 | 2 | 2 |
