Rishabh Pant's white-ball exploits for India have always been a point of debate, but when it comes to Test cricket, he has been an undisputed match-winner. A lower-middle batter who averages in the 40s and strikes in the 70s in Test cricket is considered a priceless commodity. But if the player is also your wicketkeeper, then he does the same job as that of a genuine all-rounder. And Pant is of that kind, a commodity that is indispensable for India, at least in Test cricket.
During the first Test against England in Headingley, Pant got to his seventh Test hundred, the most by an Indian wicket-keeper batter in the longest format. MS Dhoni (6) held the previous record, and since his Test retirement in 2014, it was unlikely that many would have expected India to find a gloveman who could match him with the bat, if not surpass him. Pant is now level with AB de Villiers, BJ Watling, Kumar Sangakkara and Matt Prior; all of whom have seven Test centuries as wicket-keeper batters. Only three players have more centuries as wicket-keeper batter in Tests - Adam Gilchrist (17), Andy Flower (12) and Les Ames (8).
In terms of impact, Pant is arguably the greatest wicket-keeper batter from India already, even before his record-breaking ton in Headingley on Saturday (June 21). Since his debut in 2018, Pant has averaged 5-plus in all years except 2020, when he played just three Tests. His aggressive methods down the order have often been the ideal counterpunch for India under pressure, helping them to scale peaks that were frequently considered impossible to breach. His iconic 89* at the Gabba against Australia in 2021 helped India to break down a venue that was considered Australia's fortress for decades.
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Pant has seven scores in the ninties as well and already has smashed tons in England, Australia and South Africa with only New Zealand remaining for him in terms of the SENA venues. The India vice-captain has four Test tons against England and a 91 as well, showing his penchant for racking up runs against Ben Stokes' men. When Pant got to the three-figure mark on the second day, he became the third centurion of the innings for India - a feat only achieved once before by the team in England.
That instance, also came in Headingley, back in 2002 when Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly had registered centuries to set up a famous overseas win.
