Rishabh Pant, after a period of fluctuating form, showcased his original class with a powerful Test century. He has matched MS Dhoni in achieving the most Test centuries by an Indian wicket-keeper batter. This was Pant’s 7th Test century, 4th against England. He also secured a catch, contributing to the list of Indian wicketkeeper-batters with 150 Test catches.
Pant joins the exclusive company of MS Dhoni and Syed Kirmani in this feat. Pant reached 150 catches in 44 matches, while Dhoni took 90 matches for 256 catches and Kirmani secured 160 catches in 88 games. Pant surpassed MS Dhoni in the Leeds Test to achieve his seventh century, hitting a six in the first India innings. It was his initial century after September 2024 when he scored 109 against Bangladesh.
Dhoni scored 4,876 runs with 6 tons and 33 fifties in 90 Tests at an average of 38.09. Pant scored 134 in 134 balls (12-4; 6-6), 3000 runs in this inning, and 15 fifties in 44 Tests, averaging almost 44. Wriddhiman Saha, Syed Kirmani, Farokh Engineer and Nayan Mongia are other notable wicketkeepers.