Pant surpasses MS Dhoni's feat [Source: AFP]
By the time Rishabh Pant retires from Tests, he may well be the best wicketkeeper-batter in the game’s history, and his stellar record speaks volumes about his greatness. Red-ball cricket brings out the best in him, and over the last few years, the Indian keeper has shattered multiple Test records.
On Monday, Pant attained another Test feat in the second game against Sri Lanka in Colombo. The left-handed star surpassed his idol, MS Dhoni, to attain a huge feat as he became the third-greatest wicketkeeper in away Tests.
Pant shatters MS Dhoni's numbers to go third in elite Test list
Pant has scored 2500 away Test runs, with an average of 41.70, and interestingly, he now has the third-most away Test runs by a wicketkeeper, only behind Adam Gilchrist and Mark Boucher. Previously, MS Dhoni was third on the list, but Pant went past his idol to secure his place in history.
Most runs by WKs in Away Tests
- 2634 - Adam Gilchrist (49.69)
- 2514 - Mark Boucher (27.03)
- 2500 - Rishabh Pant (41.70)*
- 2496 - MS Dhoni (32.84)
- 2198 - Alan Knott (42.26)
- 2142 - Andy Flower (52.24)
Australian great Gilchrist tops the charts with 2634 runs at an average of 49.69, followed by South African legend Mark Boucher with 2514 runs at an average of 27.03.
Pant is third on the list, with MS Dhoni behind him with 2496 runs at an average of 32.84. Alan Knott is fifth on the table, and RCB head coach and former Zimbabwean batter Andy Flower is sixth with 2142 runs.
What makes Rishabh Pant so successful in away Tests?
Record-breaker Pant has been one of those keeper-batters who have the ability to adjust everywhere, irrespective of the pitch conditions. The explosive Test batter has scored runs in home Tests and in away games, and has been India’s biggest red-ball match-winner.
Interestingly, the left-handed batter has only played in 16 home Tests, and has 36 away games to his name; thus, by playing more away from home, he has acclimated to the tricky wickets.
Also Read: The Art of Scoring Tough Runs, Ft. Rishabh Pant
He has hundreds in Australia, England, and South Africa, three tough places to bat, and this showcases how the Indian batter adapts to different batting conditions; thus, he has slowly climbed the ladder in the most away Test runs by a wicket-keeper.
Rishabh Pant's home and away Tests at a glance
Pant has perfectly filled the MS Dhoni void in the middle order and has certainly become the crisis man for India in red-ball cricket.
Some players have an excellent record at home but fail in away conditions, but that has not been the case for the left-handed keeper-batter, and the stats tell the story.
In 16 home Tests, he has accumulated 1191 runs, with an average of 49.63, including two hundreds. The record in away games is also stellar, as the 28-year-old has scored 2500 runs, with an average of 41.70, including 6 hundreds.
The data showcases how Pant has performed in alien conditions, and by the time he retires, the wicket-keeper batter will easily surpass Gilchrist.
(Note: All stats and numbers are updated till August 24, 2026).
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