Pant’s explosive batting caught the attention of the Indian Premier League (IPL) scouts in 2016 when he was drafted by the Delhi franchise.
Rishabh Pant, the flamboyant southpaw with an attacking spirit, is known for his audacious strokeplay and lightning-fast glovework. At just 26, he’s already carved a niche for himself in Indian cricket, leaving fans enthralled with his maverick style. Let’s delve deeper into his cricketing journey, peppered with some interesting trivia:
Born in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, cricket captivated Rishabh at a young age. His family’s relocation to Delhi proved pivotal, providing access to better training facilities. Coached by Tarak Sinha at the Sonnet Cricket Academy, Pant’s talent blossomed early. An interesting fact — his initial foray wasn’t wicketkeeping! He honed his skills playing district-level U-14 and U-16 tournaments in Rajasthan before returning to Delhi for First-Class cricket.
Pant’s first-class debut for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy came at 18. Destiny seemed to have a script in store — his breakthrough knock arrived against Maharashtra in 2015, where a monumental triple-century saw him etch his name in domestic record books. The following season, another scorching century (off just 48 balls!) against Jharkhand further cemented his reputation as a future star.
Pant’s explosive batting caught the attention of the Indian Premier League (IPL) scouts in 2016. Drafted by the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals), he wasted no time in making his mark. His leadership qualities were recognized in 2021 when he was handed the captaincy reins after Shreyas Iyer’s injury. Interestingly, Pant became the fifth youngest IPL captain ever at that time!
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 16, 2024
In Part 2 of the #MiracleMan, we bring you insights from @RishabhPant17's road to recovery, where determination and perseverance ultimately triumph.
From intense rehabilitation sessions, training regime, and nutrition - the… pic.twitter.com/83YZExqkIa
Initially seen as a limited-overs specialist, Pant’s stellar performances earned him a place in the Indian T20I squad in 2017. He soon proved his mettle in Tests, becoming a vital cog in India’s middle order. His maiden Test century came during the 2018 England tour, and he has since notched up five tons in whites, showcasing his temperament alongside his power-hitting.
Perhaps Pant’s most defining knock came in the historic Gabba Test against Australia in 2021. His valiant 89-run knock, under immense pressure, on the final day, helped India chase down a seemingly impossible target of 328 runs. This fighting spirit and ability to thrive in crunch situations are hallmarks of his game.
🔙 to the game I love the most 🫶#RP17 #DelhiCapitals pic.twitter.com/yVtEwhLtZy
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) March 16, 2024
While Pant’s on-field heroics grab the headlines, some of his lesser-known achievements deserve mention. He is the first and only Asian wicketkeeper-batsman to score Test centuries in both Australia and England, a testament to his adaptability across conditions. Another interesting fact — he jointly holds the record for the most catches by a wicketkeeper in a Test match, snaring 11 dismissals against Australia in 2018!
December 2022 saw a major setback for Pant when he met with a car accident. The injuries sustained forced him to miss the IPL and several international tournaments. However, Pant’s fighting spirit shone through as his road to recovery tur.
Rishabh Pant’s story is far from over. His return to the field is being eagerly followed by fans. With his unique blend of aggression and technique, Pant is poised to take his cricketing journey to even greater heights, leaving a lasting legacy in Indian cricket.
