Rishabh Pant’s innings on Day 2 established him as India’s most prolific wicketkeeper-batter.
Pant’s Century Rekindles Debate Over India’s Greatest Test Wicketkeeper-Batter
Rishabh Pant’s brilliant century on a dry Headingley pitch played a crucial role in India’s commanding first-innings total of 471, reigniting the long-standing debate about the country’s greatest-ever Test wicketkeeper-batter. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar strongly believes that Pant has now firmly placed himself ahead in this conversation. Pant’s innings marked his seventh career Test century and his third on English soil, showcasing his ability to perform consistently in challenging conditions away from home.
Rishabh aggressive yet composed batting was a key factor in India’s strong position during the opening Test against England in Leeds. His century not only contributed valuable runs but also demonstrated his growing maturity and importance to the Indian batting lineup. As the debate continues, many now see Pant as a leading candidate for India’s finest wicketkeeper-batsman in Test cricket history, joining an elite group that includes legendary players such as MS Dhoni and Farokh Engineer.
Manjrekar Compares Rishabh and Dhoni’s Centuries, Highlights Rishabh Edge in SENA Conditions
Veteran batter Sanjay Manjrekar further elaborated on his views by comparing the Test centuries of Rishabh and MS Dhoni. Manjrekar pointed out that five of Pant’s seven centuries came in challenging SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia), whereas Dhoni never scored a century outside Asia, with his highest being 92 at The Oval in 2007.
“Again, I am a believer in where you got your hundreds, and I always look at that. Rishabh got hundreds in England, South Africa, and a couple in Australia. When you compare that to MS Dhoni’s centuries, with all due respect to his fans, most of his hundreds came on Indian pitches where batting is comparatively easier,” Manjrekar said. He added that in Test cricket, Pant is already well ahead of Dhoni in this regard.
Rishabh impressive knock on Day 2 also made him India’s most prolific wicketkeeper-batter, as he surpassed Dhoni’s record of six Test centuries.
