IND vs AFG: Rishabh Pant joins MS Dhoni, Syed Kirmani in India’s exclusive Test wicketkeeper club

Rishabh Pant added another major milestone to his already impressive Test career on Saturday, becoming only the third Indian wicketkeeper in history to play 50 Test matches for the national team.The milestone came during India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, where Pant will take the field in his 50th Test appearance as India’s wicketkeeper-batsman.At just 28, Pant joins an elite list of Indian wicketkeepers alongside MS Dhoni, who played 90 Tests, and Syed Kirmani, who played 88. Since his debut in 2018, the left-handed wicketkeeper has established himself as one of the most influential match-winners in modern Test cricket.

Test match specialist

Despite criticism for his recent performances with the white ball, Pant’s credentials in the longest format remain unquestioned. By his 50th Test, he had amassed 3,476 runs at an average of 42.91, including eight centuries and many match-defining innings in tough overseas conditions. Pant also entered the milestone with 94 sixes in Test cricket.While the achievement highlights Pant’s enduring value in Test cricket, it comes during a challenging phase of his international career. Ahead of the Afghanistan Test, the Indian team management led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and the selection committee dropped Pant from the role of Test vice-captain, with KL Rahul appointed as Shubman Gill’s vice-captain. The setback was followed by another blow when Pant was left out of India’s squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan.India (Playing XI): KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.Afghanistan (Playing XI): Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Afsar Zazai(w), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi, Mohammad Saleem Safi