5 things you did not know about the newest sensation in Indian Cricket, Rishabh Pant

Young Rishabh Pant created history on his debut test match only about a week ago when he became the first Indian to take five catches as a wicket-keeper in his first ever international test game. At 20 years of age, the young lad has already attracted attention from all over the globe and seems to be the next big thing in Indian cricket.

Pant has shown a lot of character in recent times, be it his flamboyant performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 or his unwavering determination even in the face of being sledged by the best in the game like Stuart Broad in England. But there's still a lot to be known about the youngster. Here are 5 things you did not know about Rishabh Pant.

5. Rishabh Pant considers Adam Gilchrist to be his idol

As a young child, Rishabh Pant was attracted towards the game of cricket by the heroics of none other than the legendary Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist. In fact, he was so influenced by his idol that the technical resemblances between the two players are uncanny.

Just like Gilchrist, Pant is also a left-handed batsman. Having been inspired by a cricketing stalwart like Adam Gilchrist, Pant has made himself into an ideal disciple as he's equipped with the bat and equally agile behind the stumps, much like his idol.

4. Pant is the third youngest Indian with a triple century in first-class cricket

Rishabh is the third youngest Indian to hold this rare feat

Talent and hard work in the right balance is the winning combination in any field. Rishabh Pant is no exception to this. From a very young age, he's been proving his mettle again and again. In fact, he is the third youngest Indian to hold the remarkable feat of scoring a triple century in a first-class game.

Ranking only after Wasim Jaffer and Abhinav Mukund, Pant became the third youngest Indian and the fourth youngest overall to achieve this commendable feat when he smashed 308 off 326 balls against Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy back in October 2016.

3. Rishabh Pant and Shikhar Dhawan share the same mentor

Pant originally hails from Uttarakhand

Pant, who originally hails from Uttarakhand, relocated with his parents to the national capital Delhi at an age of 12. The purpose behind this paradigm shift was to train under Tarak Sinha. Interestingly, Sinha is the same man who has mentored swashbuckling Indian opener, Shikhar Dhawan.

It was Sinha who advised Pant to shift to Rajasthan for cricketing opportunities in the domestic circuit. The youngster fulfilled his aspirations as he went on to represent the district, Under-14s and Under-16s sides in the state. Unfortunately, he was later ousted by the Rajasthan team for being an 'outsider'.

2. Rishabh Pant has the highest score by an Indian in the IPL

Rishabh Pant plays for the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL

To be only 20 years old and rank fourth in the list of highest scorers in a tournament as star-studded as the IPL is indeed an achievement. That is exactly the record Rishabh Pant holds to his name owing to his dazzling display of batting against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in May 2018.

Coming in fourth only to the likes of Chris Gayle, Brendon McCullum and AB de Villiers, Pant scored an unbeaten knock of 128 runs off just 63 balls in IPL 2018, drawing accolades from fans and critics alike. This is also the highest individual score by an Indian cricketer in a Twenty20 match, as it surpassed the previous record held by Murali Vijay.

1.Pant is the 291st wicket-keeper for India

Rishabh Pant in the third test versus England in August 2018

What makes Rishabh Pant stand out among the crowd is his ability to keep the wickets with supreme agility as well as his prowess with the bat. It must have been a dream come true for the young man when he was drafted into the Indian team as a backup option for batsman-keeper Dinesh Karthik in the tour against England in August 2018.

In what can only be called 'baptism by fire', Pant was given an opportunity in the Playing XI in the third Test against England at Trent Bridge. This made him the 291st wicket-keeper for the country as he joined the league of stalwarts like Farokh Engineer, Rahul Dravid, and MS Dhoni. The youngster dazzled everyone as he trapped five wickets in his gloves on his debut test.