Rishabh Pant Completes 3000 Test Runs; Surpasses MS Dhoni To Become Most Successful Asian In SENA Conditions

Rishabh Pant on Friday (June 20) registered his name in record books once again as he crossed the 3,000-run mark in Test cricket and overtook MS Dhoni to become India's most successful wicketkeeper-batter in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) conditions.

With an unbeaten 62 on Day 1 of the first Test against England, the southpaw not only marked his return to form but also underlined his growing stature as one of India's most impactful Test cricketers in recent times.

Pant Powers Past Dhoni in SENA Tests

Coming into the game, Pant was just 50 runs shy of surpassing Dhoni's tally of 1,731 runs in SENA countries, a record that stood tall for nearly a decade. But the Delhi wicketkeeper-batter, who averages over 37 in these testing conditions, made light work of the English bowling attack. With a signature slog sweep for four, Pant reached his 3,000th Test run and went past Dhoni to become the highest run-scorer among Asian wicketkeeper-batters in SENA Tests.

Fourth Indian Wicketkeeper to 3000 Test Runs

Pant now joins an elite club of Indian wicketkeeper-batters to have crossed 3,000 Test runs. Before him, only MS Dhoni, Farokh Engineer, and Syed Kirmani had achieved this milestone. At just 27, Pant has reached the mark quicker than most and is showing signs of being one of India's finest wicketkeepers in red-ball history.

Fire and Flair: Pant's Knock at Headingley

Walking in at No. 5 after Yashasvi Jaiswal's sensational century, Pant wasted no time asserting dominance. He stepped out to Ben Stokes and slapped a straight boundary off just his fourth ball - a clear indication of intent. He went on to build a match-defining 148-run stand with skipper Shubman Gill, who remained unbeaten on 127. India, thus, posted 359/3 in 85 overs at the close of play on Day 1.

Pant's 62* off just 102 balls featured six fours and two towering sixes - a knock laced with aggression, calculated risk, and trademark audacity. It was the kind of innings that reminded fans of his match-winning knocks in the past.

Century in Sight for Rishabh Pant on Day 2

If Pant can convert this fluent fifty into a century at Headingley, it will be his fifth century in SENA conditions, making him the first Indian wicketkeeper to do so. Currently, he has 1 Test century in Australia, 1 in South Africa, and 2 in England.

Another hundred will also see him surpass Dhoni's record of six Test centuries, making Pant the Indian wicketkeeper with most Test tons - yet another legacy-defining milestone.

Rewriting the Narrative

Pant's rise comes at a crucial juncture. After a below-par Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia (255 runs in 9 innings, avg 28.33) and an indifferent IPL 2025 season with Lucknow Super Giants, questions were being raised about his form and fitness. But true to his character, the Delhi dasher has silenced critics in emphatic fashion.