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Rishabh Pant leapfrogs Shubman Gill to become India’s leading WTC run-scorer
Rishabh Pant overtook MS Dhoni as India's leading designated wicketkeeper run-scorer in away/neutral Tests and became the country's top run-getter in World Test Championship history during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Rishabh Pant continued his remarkable rise through India's Test record books on Monday, surpassing captain Shubman Gill to become the country's highest run-scorer in ICC World Test Championship history. He also moved past MS Dhoni as India's highest run-scorer among designated wicketkeeper-batters in away or neutral Tests. Both milestones came during the second and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.
Pant was unbeaten on 63 at lunch on the second day as India reached 419/6. He now has 2,948 runs from 42 Tests in the World Test Championship, moving ahead of Gill's 2,917 from the same number of matches. Rohit Sharma is third among Indian batters with 2,716 runs from 40 Tests, followed by Ravindra Jadeja (2,675 from 50), Virat Kohli (2,617 from 46), and Yashasvi Jaiswal (2,588 from 30).
In the away/neutral wicketkeeper category, Pant crossed 2,500 runs, edging beyond Dhoni's 2,496 at an average of almost 42 compared with Dhoni's 32.84. Farokh Engineer is third on the list with 1,209 runs at an average of 32.67, followed by Syed Kirmani (1,109 at 21.74) and Kiran More (901 at 29.06). One set of figures showed Pant with 2,534 runs in 36 matches at 42.23, including six centuries and 11 fifties, while another source put his tally at 2,501 at an average of 41.68 at the time of reporting.
Recovery After Injury Scare
Pant's latest landmarks came despite an injury scare on the opening day. He had retired hurt after being struck on the left arm by a short delivery from Sri Lanka pacer Lahiru Kumara in the third session, having scored only three runs off 15 balls. The batter was attended to by the Indian team's physiotherapist, with an ice pack applied initially before his arm was strapped, although the tape was later removed. He walked off alongside the physiotherapist in the 58th over.
He returned to bat on Day 2 after Sri Lanka dismissed debutant Saransh Jain for six. Sri Lanka's pacers continued to test Pant with short-pitched deliveries, with the batter taking a couple of blows to the shoulder before the drinks break. Pant, however, showed resilience, while Jurel offered steady support as the duo put together a 47-run partnership by the drinks break.
Commanding Stand and Milestones
The latest milestone came during a crucial partnership with Dhruv Jurel, who also reached his half-century. The pair had added an unbeaten 112 runs for the seventh wicket by lunch, helping India build a commanding first-innings total after losing six wickets. Pant reached his 21st Test fifty from 81 balls, while Jurel brought up his half-century from 97 deliveries.
India resumed Day 2 on 300/5. The total of 419/6 was only the 11th time a team has posted 400 or more in the first innings of a Test at this venue; six of the previous 10 instances resulted in victories and four ended in draws. The century partnership between Pant and Jurel was the second time India registered a 100-plus stand for the seventh wicket or lower in a Test in Sri Lanka, after Pujara and Mishra's 104 in 2015.
WTC Chase and Other Rankings
Pant entered the match as India's leading run-scorer in the World Test Championship with 2,948 runs from 42 matches at an average of 42.72. He needs 52 more runs to reach 3,000 WTC runs, which would make him the first Indian batter and the first designated wicketkeeper-batter in world cricket to achieve the feat.
Beyond the India-specific lists, Pant is placed third among designated wicketkeeper-batters in away Tests worldwide, behind former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (2,696) and Australia great Adam Gilchrist (2,634). He has 17 scores of 50 or more in away Tests, placing him sixth among wicketkeeper-batters; Adam Gilchrist, MS Dhoni, and Alan Knott lead with 19 each, followed by Andy Flower and Matt Prior with 18 apiece.
How each outlet told it
Cricket Addictor
Framing: Highlights Pant surpassing Dhoni in away Test runs for India; WTC chase secondary in body sections — Measured encyclopedic/stats-heavy — e.g. ranked lists, 'valuable partnership', 'Eyes 3,000 Runs', 'Lead India's Fightback'
Facts Included:
Pant surpasses Dhoni as highest run-scorer among Indian designated WK-batters in away/neutral Tests
Day 2 Monday August 24, second/final Test vs Sri Lanka at SSC Colombo
Retired hurt on 3 Day 1 after blow to left wrist; returned to 63* off 88; India 419/6 at lunch
Partnership with Dhruv Jurel; Saransh Jain dismissed earlier in session
Pant crossed 2,500 away WK runs; past Dhoni's 2,496; Pant 2,534 in 36 matches at 42.23, six centuries, 11 fifties
Dhoni 2,496 in 48 away Tests 2006–2014 at 32.84
Worldwide away WK: Pant third behind Sarfaraz Ahmed 2,696 and Adam Gilchrist 2,634
Framing: Centers Pant scripting history by surpassing Dhoni as India's leading away wicketkeeper run-scorer; no WTC/Gill angle in headline — Sympathetic/resilience-focused — e.g. 'showed resilience', 'continued to bat despite taking blows', 'visibly in discomfort'
Facts Included:
Pant becomes India's highest designated wicketkeeper run-scorer in away/neutral Tests, past MS Dhoni
Milestone during second Test vs Sri Lanka in Colombo on Monday
Pant 2,501 runs at average 41.68 (at time of reporting) vs Dhoni's 2,496
Top five: Engineer 1,209, Kirmani 1,109, More 901
Retired hurt Day 1 after left-arm strike from Lahiru Kumara short ball while attempting pull; 3 runs off 15 balls; walked off 58th over with physiotherapist
Ice pack then arm strapped; tape later removed; visible discomfort
Returned Day 2 after Asitha Fernando dismissed Saransh Jain for six (sixth wicket)
Joined Dhruv Jurel; Sri Lanka pacers tested him with short balls; couple of blows to shoulder before drinks
Framing: Emphasizes Pant leapfrogging captain Gill as India's leading WTC run-scorer; does not headline the Dhoni/away-wicketkeeper record — Celebratory/record-focused — e.g. 'continued his remarkable rise', 'commanding first-innings total', 'another record to his name'
Facts Included:
Pant unbeaten on 63 at lunch Day 2, India 419/6 vs Sri Lanka in Colombo
Pant becomes India's highest WTC run-scorer with 2,948 runs from 42 Tests, ahead of Shubman Gill's 2,917 from 42
Rohit Sharma third (2,716 from 40), Jadeja (2,675 from 50), Kohli (2,617 from 46), Jaiswal (2,588 from 30)
Unbeaten 112-run seventh-wicket partnership with Dhruv Jurel; both reached half-centuries
Pant passed MS Dhoni as India's highest designated wicketkeeper run-scorer in away/neutral Tests, crossing 2,500 vs Dhoni's 2,496
Pant average almost 42 vs Dhoni's 32.84; Engineer 1,209, Kirmani 1,109, More 901 listed
Pant retired hurt Day 1 after left-arm blow from Lahiru Kumara short ball, on 3 runs
Returned after Saransh Jain dismissed for 6
419/6 is 11th time a team posted 400+ first innings at venue; prior 10: 6 wins, 4 draws
Second India 100+ stand for seventh wicket or lower in Sri Lanka Tests (after Pujara-Mishra 104 in 2015)
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimRishabh Pant became India's highest run-scorer in ICC World Test Championship history, surpassing Shubman Gill.
ClaimRohit Sharma is third among Indian batters in WTC runs with 2,716 from 40 Tests, followed by Ravindra Jadeja (2,675 from 50), Virat Kohli (2,617 from 46), and Yashasvi Jaiswal (2,588 from 30).
ClaimFarokh Engineer is third on the list of Indian designated wicketkeepers in away/neutral Tests with 1,209 runs at an average of 32.67, followed by Syed Kirmani (1,109 at 21.74) and Kiran More (901 at 29.06).
ClaimRishabh Pant retired hurt on Day 1 after being struck on the left arm by a short delivery from Sri Lanka pacer Lahiru Kumara, having scored three runs.
ClaimThe total of 419/6 was only the 11th time a team has posted 400 or more in the first innings of a Test at this venue; six of the previous 10 instances resulted in victories and four ended in draws.
ClaimThe century partnership between Rishabh Pant and Dhruv Jurel was the second time India registered a 100-plus stand for the seventh wicket or lower in a Test in Sri Lanka, after Pujara and Mishra's 104 in 2015.
ClaimRishabh Pant entered the second Test as India's leading run-scorer in the World Test Championship with 2,948 runs from 42 matches at an average of 42.72.
ClaimRishabh Pant would become the first Indian batter and the first designated wicketkeeper-batter in world cricket to score 3,000 runs in the World Test Championship.
ClaimPant was attended to by the Indian team's physiotherapist, with an ice pack applied initially before his arm was strapped, although the tape was later removed.
ClaimSri Lanka's pacers continued to test Pant with short-pitched deliveries, with Pant taking a couple of blows to the shoulder before the drinks break.