Rishabh Pant Scales New Heights, Becomes India’s Leading Run-Scorer in WTC History
COLOMBO: In a testament to his enduring impact on the longest format of the game, Rishabh Pant has officially overtaken Shubman Gill to become India’s highest run-scorer in the history of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).
The milestone was achieved on the second day of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo, as Pant continued his sublime form to steer India into a position of dominance. Heading into the lunch break on Monday, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter remained unbeaten on 63, guiding India to a commanding first-innings total of 419/6.
A New Record at the Helm of the WTC
With this latest performance, Pant’s tally in the WTC now stands at 2,948 runs from 42 matches. He narrowly eclipsed Shubman Gill, who holds 2,917 runs from an identical number of appearances. The list of India’s top WTC contributors remains a who’s who of modern Indian batting talent:
- Rishabh Pant: 2,948 runs
- Shubman Gill: 2,917 runs
- Rohit Sharma: 2,716 runs
- Ravindra Jadeja: 2,675 runs
- Virat Kohli: 2,617 runs
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: 2,588 runs
This statistical ascension highlights why Rishabh Pant is widely regarded as one of the most transformative players in Indian Test cricket history.
A Historic Run for Wicketkeepers
Pant’s entry into the record books was double-fold this week. Before securing the WTC top spot, he surpassed the legendary MS Dhoni to become India’s highest run-scorer as a designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests.
Pant has now moved past 2,500 runs in this category, maintaining an impressive average of nearly 42—significantly higher than the 32.84 average recorded by Dhoni. The achievement is particularly poignant given the list of legends he has surpassed, including Farokh Engineer and Syed Kirmani.
Resilience Amidst Pressure
The road to these milestones was not without obstacles. On the opening day, Pant suffered an injury scare after being struck on the left arm by a fiery delivery from Sri Lankan pacer Lahiru Kumara. Forced to retire hurt on just three runs, many feared for his availability.
However, showing characteristic grit, he returned to the crease on Day 2. Partnering with the equally impressive Dhruv Jurel, Pant stitched together a vital 112-run unbeaten stand for the seventh wicket. Their partnership represents only the second time an Indian pair has put together a 100-plus stand for the seventh wicket or lower on Sri Lankan soil, a feat not seen since Cheteshwar Pujara and Amit Mishra’s effort in 2015.
As India sits firmly on a total of 419/6, the match statistics heavily favor the visitors. Of the previous 10 times a team has posted 400 or more in the first innings at the Colombo venue, six resulted in victories, signaling a potentially historic win for the Indian side.
