The curious case of Rishabh Pant in whites

When Rishabh Pant burst onto the scene with his aggressive batting style and unorthodox technique, most expected him to thrive in the shorter formats of the game. After all, his fearless stroke play seemed tailor-made for T20s and ODIs.

However, cricket often defies expectations, and Pant’s journey has been a perfect example of this. Contrary to popular belief, it’s in Test cricket that he has truly made his mark, delivering match-winning performances in challenging conditions, while his outings in white-ball cricket have been inconsistent and underwhelming, leaving fans wanting more.

Here, we take a look at Pant’s Test career so far and some of his most crucial innings, the ups and downs along the way, comparisons with other great wicketkeeper-batters, and what lies ahead.

Test career so far

Rishabh Pant made his Test debut against England on August 18, 2018. In the same series, he scored his maiden Test century, thus becoming the second-youngest wicketkeeper and the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test century in England. In September 2019, he became the fastest Indian wicketkeeper to affect 50 dismissals in Tests. In January 2021, playing against Australia in the fourth Test of the Border–Gavaskar Trophy, Pant became the fastest Indian keeper to complete 1,000 Test runs. 

Here are some of his most memorable Test knocks.

114 vs England | London, 2018

This was Pant’s first Test century, one that announced his arrival and showcased his aggressive style and ability to perform under pressure. Even though England won the series emphatically, it was clear from this innings that Pant would make his mark in the format. 

159* vs Australia | Sydney, 2019

This innings arrived in the fourth Test of a historic series win in Australia for India. Pant, alongside Cheteshwar Pujara, helped India reach a mammoth total of 622/7 and declared. Australia were then made to follow on but managed to draw the Test. It was an amazing innings that made the Aussies fear the young Indian wicketkeeper-batter. 

89* vs Australia | Brisbane, 2021

This match — and series — would be remembered for the belligerence, belief, and confidence of youth. Without their talismanic captain Virat Kohli and a fairly inexperienced bowling line-up, India and Rishabh Pant pulled off a heist at the Gabba. 

India needed to chase down 300+ on the last day at a venue where Australia hadn’t lost in more than 30 years. Pant, supported by Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara, did the unthinkable, guiding India to a win by three wickets and pull off a memorable series win against all odds. 

146 vs England | Birmingham, 2022

This was another knock under pressure from Pant in the drawn series in England. India were reeling at 71/4 in the first innings until he walked in and, along with Ravindra Jadeja, built a huge partnership to propel India to a competitive total of 416. 

India’s second-innings batting collapse didn’t help, however, and even though Pant and Pujara scored half-centuries, the other batters didn’t provide enough support as India lost the Test and drew the series. 

If not for Pant’s exploits in the first innings, India might have been humiliated within three days. 

100* vs South Africa | Cape Town, 2022

South Africa is the only SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) country India haven’t conquered yet in Tests. Indian batters have been tested here more often, and even in this particular Test, while most batters departed for single-digit figures, Pant stood tall and alone to try to rescue matters.

Even though India lost this Test and the series, this was another show of Pant’s batting prowess in the toughest of conditions away from home.

Twin centuries (134 and 118) vs England | Leeds, 2025

Pant has had a fabulous start to the ongoing Test series in England. In the first Test, he ended up scoring a century in both innings.

Though England managed to chase down 350+ on the last day of the Test and won, one cannot take anything away from Pant’s performance, considering what he has gone through in the past few years.

The ups and downs

Pant is no stranger to adversity. In 2019 and 2020, following the retirement of the legendary MS Dhoni from international cricket, Pant went through a turbulent phase marked by a dip in form and eventual exclusion from India’s limited-overs squads. It was a challenging period in his career, as expectations soared and consistency eluded him.

However, nothing compared to the life-altering moment in December 2022, when Pant was involved in a horrific car accident while travelling back home. Though he survived, the injuries were serious — affecting his head, back, knees, and feet — and cast a shadow of doubt over his cricketing future. For many, it was uncertain whether he would ever return to the game.

Yet, true to form, Pant remained optimistic. Through months of intense rehabilitation and unwavering determination, he pulled off a remarkable comeback. After nearly two years away from competitive cricket, he returned to the field during the 2024 Indian Premier League season to lead the Delhi Capitals and inspire millions with his resilience and fighting spirit. 

Comparison to MS Dhoni and Adam Gilchrist in Tests

Though Pant is still relatively early in his Test career, he has already surpassed any Indian wicketkeeper-batter in Tests who came before him when it comes to his ability with the bat, his aggressive style, the speed at which he scores runs, and his supremacy when it comes to scoring in SENA countries.

Here, we compare Pant with legendary wicketkeeper-batters MS Dhoni and Adam Gilchrist.

Batting stats

Wicketkeeping stats

Stats source: ESPNcricinfo

As we can see, Gilchrist indeed has the best record among the three and has undoubtedly been the best wicketkeeper-batter in Tests.

For context, though, his stats are over his entire career, while Pant has played half the number of Test matches and can feasibly go past him in terms of runs, average, and centuries if he continues to perform on a consistent basis. However, it would be difficult to beat Gilchrist’s wicketkeeping stats.

As for the comparison with his idol and Indian legend, Pant has already surpassed Dhoni in batting average, centuries, and strike rate, but Dhoni has the supremacy in the wicketkeeping stats, and here again Pant will find it hard to surpass them.

Conclusion

Rishabh Pant is a joy to watch on the cricket field — whether he’s wielding the bat or crouched behind the stumps. In Test cricket, his fearless and often unorthodox batting style not only entertains fans but also poses a serious threat to opponents. Pant is a match-winner in every sense, and in recent outings there seems to be a growing sense of maturity to his game. He appears calmer, more composed, and measured in his aggression, which suggests there very much is a method to his madness.

While Indian fans are still hoping for more consistent performances from Pant in white-ball formats, his impact in Tests has been nothing short of refreshing. Since his debut in 2018, he has emerged as one of India’s most dependable batters in the longest format, often delivering when the team have needed him most.

The case keeps getting curiouser and curiouser as to how Pant has managed to crack the code in Test cricket so convincingly while still finding his footing in the shorter versions of the game. Yet, for Test cricket enthusiasts, it’s a delightful puzzle. His flair, audacity, and antics light up the stadium in a format that often demands patience.

Rishabh Pant has already staked a strong claim for a place in India’s all-time Test XI. If he continues performing at this level, it won’t be long before he’s in the conversation as one of India’s finest-ever Test batters. For a wicketkeeper to even be in that discussion is extraordinary, especially in a country with an undeniably great Test-batting legacy.