IND vs AFG: Rishabh Pant joins MS Dhoni, Syed Kirmani in exclusive Indian Test wicketkeeper club

Rishabh Pant added another significant milestone to his already impressive Test career on Saturday, becoming only the third Indian wicketkeeper in history to play 50 Test matches for the national team.

The landmark came during India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, where Pant will take the field in his 50th Test appearance as India’s designated wicketkeeper-batter.

At just 28 years of age, Pant joins an elite list of Indian wicketkeepers alongside MS Dhoni who had played 90 tests and Syed Kirmani who played 88. Since making his debut in 2018, the left-handed wicketkeeper has established himself as one of the most influential match-winners in modern Test cricket.

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Despite facing criticism over his recent white-ball performances, Pant’s credentials in the longest format remain unquestionable. Heading into his 50th Test, he had accumulated 3,476 runs at an average of 42.91, including eight centuries and numerous match-defining innings in challenging overseas conditions. Pant also entered the milestone match with 94 sixes in Test cricket.

While the achievement highlights Pant’s enduring value in Test cricket, it comes during a challenging phase of his international career. Ahead of the Afghanistan Test, India’s team management led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and the selection committee removed Pant from the Test vice-captaincy role, with KL Rahul being appointed deputy to captain Shubman Gill. The setback was followed by another blow when Pant was omitted from India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan.

India (Playing XI): KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

Afghanistan (Playing XI): Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Afsar Zazai(w), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Mohammad Saleem Safi