Sports News: The Indian cricket team is currently touring England, where a high-stakes five-match Test series is set to begin on June 20. With regular skipper Rohit Sharma unavailable, the selectors have handed the captaincy reins to Shubman Gill, while Rishabh Pant, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman, has been appointed vice-captain. However, Pant's ambitions on this tour extend beyond leadership duties—he is on the cusp of surpassing two iconic Test records held by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Record 1: Most Test Centuries by an Indian Wicketkeeper
MS Dhoni currently holds the record for the most Test centuries scored by an Indian wicketkeeper, having notched up 6 centuries over a span of 90 Test matches. Rishabh Pant, who has played just 43 Tests so far, has already equaled this tally with 6 centuries of his own.
Should Pant score even a single century during the upcoming series, he will surpass Dhoni to become the most prolific Indian wicketkeeper in terms of Test hundreds—a record that has remained unchallenged for years.
Record 2: Most Test Runs Against SENA Countries by an Indian Wicketkeeper
Dhoni also leads another major statistic—most Test runs scored by an Indian wicketkeeper against SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia). He amassed 1,731 runs against these four teams.
Rishabh Pant is not far behind. With 1,681 runs already to his name against SENA nations, Pant needs just 50 more runs to overtake Dhoni and rewrite this record as well. Given Pant's impressive overseas form, particularly in challenging conditions, this milestone could be reached in a single innings.
A Historic Double in One Innings?
Interestingly, both of these long-standing records could be broken in the same innings. If Pant manages to score a century and crosses the 50-run mark against England in an upcoming match, he will simultaneously claim both milestones, further solidifying his status as India’s finest Test wicketkeeper-batsman in modern times.
Leadership Role and Comeback Factor
This England tour also marks a significant phase in Pant’s career. Returning from a serious injury, he is being seen as a future leader of Indian cricket. With the vice-captaincy in hand, the team management has shown faith not only in his skills but also in his temperament and leadership potential. Known for his fearless approach and game-changing innings, Pant’s performance will be under sharp focus.
June 20: All Eyes on Pant
As the series kicks off on June 20, all eyes will be on Rishabh Pant. While Team India will look to assert its dominance in England, Pant will have the added motivation of scripting two major records into the annals of Indian cricket history. With form, opportunity, and intent aligned, history might just be made in the English summer.
