Dynamic wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has made a name for himself in the world of cricket with his explosive batting and impressive glove work behind the stumps. From his humble beginnings in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, to becoming one of the established players in international cricket, Pant’s journey has been an eventful one.
Rishabh Pant Age
Born on October 4, 1997, in Roorkee, Rishabh Pant is currently 26 years old. Opportunities for sports aren’t abundant in Roorkee, which is why Rishabh’s family decided to relocate to Delhi, where the scope for sports was broader.
Pant’s cricketing journey began when his father took him to the Sonnet Academy in Delhi, which had organized a 45-day camp several years ago. They even stayed at the Moti Bagh Gurudwara for two days, as they had no place to stay nearby. Meanwhile, Rishabh focused on his game, while his mother helped out at the Gurudwara.
Domestic Cricket
Pant’s talent was evident from the outset, and he quickly rose through the ranks in domestic cricket. He made his first-class debut for Delhi in 2015. In the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy, Pant scored 308 runs in an innings against
Maharashtra, becoming the third-youngest Indian to score a triple century in first-class cricket. That same year, he scored the fastest century in the history of the Ranji Trophy. Pant achieved this milestone in Delhi’s match against Jharkhand, reaching the century in just 48 balls.
In February 2017, Pant was appointed as the captain of the Delhi team for the 2016-17 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He took over the captaincy from Gautam Gambhir.
His attacking style of play and ability to score quick runs caught the eye of selectors, earning him a call-up to the Indian U-19 team.
U19 World Cup
During the 2016 Under-19 World Cup, Pant made headlines with a scintillating 75 runs off just 24 balls against Nepal, recording the fastest half-century of the tournament. Pant continued his impressive form by scoring a century against Namibia. Pant’s emergence was one of the tournament’s highlights.
His performances caught the attention of the Delhi Daredevils, who drafted him into their squad during the IPL auctions in 2016.
IPL Career
Pant was acquired by the Delhi Daredevils when he was making waves in the 2016 Under-19 World Cup. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands by scoring 69 runs off 40 balls in his third game of the season, leading Delhi to an eight-wicket victory over the Gujarat Lions.
He was one of the three players retained by the Capitals ahead of the 2018 auction, and he repaid the faith shown in him by the franchise, by scoring nearly 700 runs. That season, Pant smashed an unbeaten 128 runs off just 63 balls against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. This innings marked the highest individual score by an Indian cricketer in IPL history at the time.
In March 2021, Pant was entrusted with the captaincy of the Delhi Capitals for the 2021 IPL season, following an injury to the regular captain, Shreyas Iyer. He was retained as captain for the 2022 season as well.
Due to a car accident in December 2022, Pant could not participate in IPL 2023. However, he is all set to make a comeback to cricket with the upcoming IPL season. So far, Pant has scored 2838 runs in 98 IPL matches at an average of 34.61 and a strike rate of 147.97.
International Career
Pant’s impressive performances in domestic cricket paved the way for his international debut. In January 2017, he earned a spot in India’s T20I squad for their series against England. At the age of 19 years and 120 days, Pant became the youngest player to represent India in a T20I match at the time.
Later, in July 2018, he was named in India’s Test squad for the series against England. He became the first Indian batsman to start his Test career with a six. In his debut Test series, he also scored his maiden Test century and became the first Indian wicketkeeper to achieve this feat in England.
Following this, Pant was included in India’s ODI squad for their series against the West Indies. He made his ODI debut for India against the West Indies in October 2018.
In 33 Tests so far, the wicketkeeper batsman has scored 2271 runs at an average of 43.67, including five centuries. In ODIs, Pant has a batting average of 34.60 in 30 games. In the shortest format, the flamboyant batsman has scored 987 runs in 56 innings at a strike rate of 126.37.
Car Accident
In December 2022, Pant was involved in a serious car accident on the Delhi-Dehradun highway near Roorkee. The car caught fire after colliding with a central divider. Pant suffered multiple injuries and sustained abrasions to his back. Following surgery, he has been recovering and has not been able to play cricket since then. However, he has now fully recuperated, and his participation in the 2023 IPL for the Delhi Capitals has been confirmed. Pant will be leading the Capitals and also playing as a wicketkeeper batsman.
