Rishabh Rajendra Pant, born on October 4, 1997, in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India, has emerged as one of the most dynamic and explosive cricketers in the Indian cricket team. Known for his exceptional skills as a wicket-keeper batter, Pant has made a significant impact in all formats of the game.
Early Life and Career
Pant's journey to cricket stardom began at a young age. At 12, he moved to Delhi with his mother to pursue professional cricket coaching. Initially, he was enrolled at the Sonnet Club, where his coach, Tarak Sinha, suggested he move to Rajasthan for better opportunities. However, facing discrimination in the Rajasthan cricket circle, Pant returned to Delhi, a decision that proved pivotal in his career. He represented Delhi in various age-level tournaments and made his first-class debut for Delhi in the 201516 Ranji Trophy.
Pant's performance in the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup was a career turning point. He was India's second-highest run-scorer with 267 runs and also scored the fastest half-century in the tournament's history, achieving it in just 18 balls against Nepal.
Domestic and International Career
In domestic cricket, Pant has been a standout player for Delhi. He scored 308 runs in an innings against Maharashtra in the 201617 Ranji Trophy, becoming the third-youngest Indian to score a triple century in first-class cricket. He also holds the record for the fastest century in the Ranji Trophy, achieved in just 48 balls against Jharkhand.
Pant made his international debut in January 2017 with a T20I against England. He followed this up with his Test debut against England in August 2018 and his ODI debut against the West Indies in October 2018. Notably, he became the first Indian batter to get off the mark in Test cricket with a six and the second-youngest wicket-keeper to score a Test century in England.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Pant has been a key player for the Delhi Capitals. He was named the captain of the team for the 2021 and 2022 seasons after the regular captain Shreyas Iyer was ruled out due to injury. His IPL career has been marked by several impressive performances, including an unbeaten 128 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, which was the highest individual score by an Indian cricketer in IPL history at the time.
Awards and Achievements
Pant's achievements have been recognized with several awards. He was named the ICC Men's Emerging Cricketer of the Year in 2019 and the Men's Player of the Month in February 2021 by the ICC. He also holds the record for the fastest fifty in Test cricket by an Indian wicket-keeper, achieved in just 28 balls against Sri Lanka in 2022.
In 2024, Pant was part of the Indian team that won the T20 World Cup, further solidifying his position as a crucial player in the Indian cricket team.
Personal Life
Pant's personal life has seen its share of challenges. His father, Rajendra Pant, passed away in April 2017 due to a cardiac arrest. Despite this, Pant showed remarkable resilience by performing well in an IPL match just two days after his father's cremation.
Pant is known to be a prankster and an emotional person. He has always idolized Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist and has been nicknamed 'India's Gilchrist' for his explosive batting style.
For more detailed information on Rishabh Pant's career and achievements, you can visit his profile on Wikipedia.
