In the early stages of his international career, Rishabh Pant may not have established himself as the safest option with the gloves behind the stumps – but only six matches into his foray in Test cricket, the 21-year-old keeper-batsman now holds an all-time India record.
Reckoned by many as the successor to MS Dhoni in the limited overs formats, Pant has levelled the former Indian captain’s mark for the most catches by an Indian in a single innings in Tests.
Pant put himself at the top of the charts by pouching six Australian catches in the first innings of the Adelaide Test to open the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
By taking three catches on Day 3, as Australia folded up for 235, Pant joined Dhoni as the only Indians to have taken six catches in a single innings of a Test match.
Dhoni had held the record since 2009, having accounted for six catches in the first innings of India’s third Test against New Zealand at Wellington. That game, incidentally, had helped India secure what remains their last Test series win outside Asia excluding West Indies.
Five previous Test match appearances since a fast-tracked long-format debut in England in August had brought 20 catches for the ‘keeper, recognised more for his hitting abilities with the bat.
But by claiming nearly one-third of his prior quota of catches behind the stumps, Pant now finds himself on top of a pile featuring some of the finest wicketkeepers to have turned out for India.
Even outside of his successful takes, Pant has been a lively presence behind the batsmen in India’s series opener in Australia. The newcomer, in fact, incensed several Aussie viewers with his chirpiness on Day 2 of the first Test on Friday, 7 December.
Not one to shy away from a verbal tussle, Pant tested Usman Khawaja’s patience with a “everyone can’t be Pujara” jibe as the Australian No. 3 attempted to thwart R Ashwin’s spin.
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