Stats: Rishabh Pant surpasses Farokh Engineer’s tally of most 50+ Test scores for Indian wicketkeeper-batter at home

Rishabh Pant. (Source -BCCI)

Rishabh Pant has overtaken former wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer’s long-standing record for the most fifty-plus scores by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket at home. The southpaw achieved the feat on Day 3 of the ongoing third Test between India and New Zealand at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, smashing his 11th fifty at Indian soil.

Engineer, who started his career in the early 1960s to mid-1970s, scored 10 fifty-plus scores in his Test career at home and made a total of 2,611 runs at an average of 31. Engineer’s aggressive batting style and consistent performances made him a key figure for Indian cricket during his career that concluded in 1975.

Meanwhile, Pant has surpassed the feat by smashing his 11th fifty-plus score, including six centuries. With 2,569 runs in just 37 Test matches, and an average of 43.54, the youngster has quickly made his name in this format of the game.

Additionally, the elite list is topped by Legendary captain MS Dhoni who leads with an overall tally of 20 fifty-plus scores, including six centuries. The former in his career smashed 4,876 runs at an average of 38. Pant has also become the fastest Indian wicketkeeper to reach 2,500 Test runs, achieving the feat in less than 65 innings, surpassing both Dhoni (69 innings) and Engineer (82 innings).

Also Read: ‘I have been having a great year’ – Shubman Gill’s retort to journalist’s run-drought question

Rishabh Pant stands tall in India’s chase at Wankhede

In the ongoing Test match, Pant has scored fifties in both the innings. He scored 60 runs off just 59 deliveries in the first innings, smashing eight boundaries and two sixes. Meanwhile, with India struggling at 29/5 and chasing 147 for victory, Pant’s got the side back into the game with another sublime fifty as they reached 92-6 at lunch, with 55 runs still needed for victory.

Most 50+ scores for an Indian keeper batter at home in Tests