IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant surpasses MS Dhoni, Kumar Sangakkara to become first in Asia to...

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Jun 21, 2025, 09:43 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Rishabh Pant achieved a milestone at Headingley. He is now the fastest Asian wicketkeeper-batter to score 3000 Test runs. Pant reached this feat in his 76th innings. He surpassed legends like MS Dhoni and Kumar Sangakkara. Pant's aggressive batting style has made him a global favorite. He also scored a quick 65* on Day 1.

IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant surpasses MS Dhoni, Kumar Sangakkara to become first in Asia to...

India's Rishabh Pant , AP/PTI(AP06_20_2025_000390B)

Rishabh Pant added another feather to his already glittering cap on Day 1 of the Headingley Test, becoming the fastest Asian wicketkeeper-batter to reach 3000 runs in Test cricket.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

The 26-year-old powerhouse achieved this milestone in just his 76th Test innings, leaving behind some of Asia’s biggest names behind the stumps. MS Dhoni, Kumar Sangakkara, and Mushfiqur Rahim all took more time to get there. Pant has done it playing his own brand of fearless, attacking cricket that has made him a fan favourite across the world. Ever since his debut, Pant has rewritten how wicketkeepers bat in Tests for India — counter-attacking in Australia, rescuing innings in England, and now anchoring and dominating as a senior player.

Yashasvi Jaiswal credits Shubman Gill after maiden Test ton in England: 'I love it'

Fastest to 3000 Asian WKs (approx):

Rishabh Pant – 76 innings
Kumar Sangakkara – 78 innings
MS Dhoni – 86 innings

His record at this point is remarkable:

3000+ runs at an impressive strike rate,
Centuries in Australia and England,
Now the most Test runs by an Asian keeper in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia).

Quiz: Who's that IPL player? On Day 1 at Headingley, Pant once again showed why he’s irreplaceable by smashing a quick 65* to keep the pressure on England after the top order’s solid platform. His fearless six off Chris Woakes just before stumps was classic Pant — no fear, only firework.

With Pant in this mood and form, India’s lower order looks set to add plenty more runs on Day 2. For fans, the bigger joy is watching Pant break more records while staying true to his free-spirited style — one big hit at a time.

Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik’s inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article