Rishabh Pant Breaks Dhoni’s Record With 159-Run Knock vs Australia

Rishabh Pant became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test century in Australia, during the fourth Test.

Rishabh Pant scored an unbeaten 159 against Australia.

(Photo: AP)

Rishabh Pant became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test century in Australia, during the fourth and final Test at Sydney on Friday, 4 January.

The 21-year-old batsman eventually remained unbeaten at 159 as India declared their first innings at 622/7 on the second day of the Test.

With this, Pant set the record for the highest-ever score by an Indian wicketkeeper in away Tests, surpassing MS Dhoni’s 148 against Pakistan in 2006.

After scoring his maiden international century against England at The Oval earlier this year, Pant brought up his second ton off 137 deliveries. He is the first Indian wicketkeeper, and only the second visiting wicketkeeper to register Test centuries both in England and Australia; Jeffery Dujon was the first, having scored hundreds at Manchester and Perth in 1984.

Smashing 15 fours and a six, Pant put on 204 runs for the seventh wicket with Jadeja – India's first 200+ partnership for the seventh wicket in Tests in Australia, and only their second such association in Tests away from home.

Pant has also become the first wicketkeeper from the subcontinent to score over 200 runs and take 20 catches in a Test series.