Stats: Rishabh Pant becomes 3rd Indian go past 150 catches in Test cricket

Rishabh Pant put another feather to his famous cap by becoming the third Indian to reach 150 catches in Test cricket. He accomplished this accomplishment on the third day of the ongoing first Test between India and England in Headingley, Leeds. Pant now joins Syed Kirmani and MS Dhoni as the only wicketkeepers to have at least 150 catches in Test cricket for an Indian team.

Despite earlier achievements by Kirmani and Dhoni, Rishabh Pant has been the Baggy Blues’ fastest wicketkeeper to attain the milestone.

MS Dhoni’s career ended after 166 innings, with 256 caught dismissals. Syed Kirmani, who played 88 Tests for India from 1976 to 1986, took 151 innings to achieve 160 catches before retiring from international cricket. Surprisingly, Pant took only 86 innings, a wonderful achievement for the wicketkeeper-batsman, who also has the most hundreds (7) in that position.

Pant accomplished the feat by taking Ollie Pope’s catch behind the wickets from Prasidh Krishna’s bowling during the morning session of the third day of the Headingley Test. Approximately an hour later, he made no mistake in grabbing the outside edge of English skipper Ben Stokes, this time off Mohammed Siraj’s brilliant delivery on the off stump.

Most catches by Indian wicket-keeper In Tests

Pant only needs 10 more catches to pass Syed Kirmani for second place, and if he doesn’t waste the opportunities, he may accomplish the feat in the five-match series itself, with nine more innings left on the tour. His performances with the bat have already given the Indian team an advantage, as he struck his sixth Test century, a stunning 134-run knock that included 12 fours and six maximums.