Rishabh Pant breaks Kapil Dev’s record for fastest 50 by an Indian in Test cricket

Dashing wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has broken Kapil Dev’s record for the fastest 50 by an Indian in Test cricket. The left-hander achieved the feat during Day 2 of the pink ball Test against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru.

The 24-year-old needed only 28 deliveries to reach his half-century in India’s second innings on Sunday. He smacked seven fours and two sixes as the hosts’ lead swelled past the 300-run mark. Kapil Dev had notched up a half-century off only 30 deliveries against Pakistan in Karachi in 1982.

All-rounder Shardul Thakur (31 deliveries vs England at The Oval in 2021) and Virender Sehwag (32 deliveries vs England in Chennai in 2008) are behind Dev on the list.

The 24-year-old’s effort on Sunday is also the fastest half-century recorded in a Test in India after Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi (26 deliveries) and England’s Ian Botham (28 deliveries).

The wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed immediately after reaching his fifty when he failed in an attempt to take on Praveen Jayawickrama. The left-hander offered a skier that was gleefully accepted by the bowler.

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Rishabh Pant shines in tough Test for batters

Before his record-breaking effort on Sunday, Pant had shone on Day 1 of the pink ball Test as well.

After India opted to bat first on winning the toss, they crumbled to 86-4. However, Pant took on the Lankan bowlers, making a crucial 39 off only 26 deliveries with the aid of seven fours. Following his dismissal, Shreyas Iyer’s brilliant 98-ball 92 lifted the hosts to 252.

Team India’s bowlers reduced Sri Lanka to 86-6 by stumps on Day 1. They needed only 5.5 overs to claim the remaining four Lankan wickets on Day 2. The visitors were cleaned up for 109 as Jasprit Bumrah claimed a five-wicket haul, his first in a Test innings on Indian soil.

India got off to a good start in their second innings, with Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma adding 42 runs for the opening wicket.

Lasith Embuldeniya got the breakthrough when Agarwal (22) edged one to gully. Rohit Sharma (46) and Hanuma Vihari (35) again perished after getting starts while Virat Kohli was trapped lbw by Jayawickrama for 13.