IND vs NZ: Rishabh Pant Smashes Fastest Test Fifty by Indian Against New Zealand in Mumbai

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Rishabh Pant registered the fastest Test fifty by an Indian batter against New Zealand during day 2 of the third Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday (November 2).

Pant reached 50 in just 36 balls, eclipsing the previous record of a 41-ball fifty by Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Pune Test last week. The brisk knock from Pant dug India out of trouble in the Mumbai Test.

Walking in to bat after a mini collapse at the close of play on Day 1, the Indian wicketkeeper-batter shared a swift stand with Shubman Gill, who also scored a fine half century, as the duo came out all guns blazing on Day 2 to take India past 150 in quicktime.

The duo lived a charmed life as New Zealand dropped catches. Taking advantage of the reprieve, Gill and Pant struck boundaries in regular intervals and unsettled the Kiwi spinners in the process.

Pant, who holds the record for fastest Test fifty by an Indian, smashed 2 sixes and 8 fours during his innings of 60 off 59 balls. The wicketkeeper-batter ran out of luck as a ball stayed low and he was trapped in front of the stumps by Ish Sodhi.

The 27-year-old Pant had earlier smashed a 28-ball half-century against Sri Lanka in the Bengaluru Test in 2022. His innings on Saturday (November 2) coupled with Gill's contribution took India closer to New Zealand's first innings score of 235.

Opting to bat first, New Zealand were bundled out inside the first day's play in Mumbai as Ravindra Jadeja claimed his 14th five-wicket haul. Washington Sundar carried on from his Pune Test heroics with a four-wicket haul.

For New Zealand, Daryl Mitchell (82) and Will Young (71) were the notable scorers in their first innings. Skipper Tom Latham (28) also looked good before he fell to Sundar on Day 1.

In response, India lost skipper Rohit Sharma early, but Jaiswal and Gill steadied ship. However, Jaiswal's dismissal in the closing stages of the opening day led to a mini collapse as nightwatchman Mohammed Siraj fell for a golden duck, and Virat Kohli got run out in the very next over.