Rishabh Pant achieved a major milestone on Friday at Headingley, becoming the most successful Asian wicketkeeper-batter in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries. The 26-year-old went past MS Dhoni during his unbeaten 65 on Day 1 of the first Test against England—both countries' opening fixture of the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle.
Pant also crossed 3,000 runs in Test cricket during the knock, becoming only the second Indian wicketkeeper after Dhoni to achieve the feat. He reached the landmark in just his 76th innings, the second-fastest among wicketkeeper-batters in Test history behind Australia’s Adam Gilchrist, who got there in 63 innings.
Pant now has 1,746 runs in SENA countries from 27 matches at an average of 38.80, including four centuries and six fifties. In doing so, he moved past Dhoni’s tally of 1,731 runs in 32 matches, becoming the highest-scoring Asian wicketkeeper-batter in these conditions.
Known for his counterattacking style, Pant displayed maturity and control in Leeds. His 102-ball 65, featuring six fours and two sixes, came in an unbroken 138-run partnership with captain Shubman Gill as India closed the day with a dominant 359 for 3 — their highest-ever first-day total in a Test match on English soil.
Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal set the tone with a fluent 101 off 159 deliveries, striking 16 boundaries and a six. Gill followed with a composed, unbeaten 127 in his first outing as Test captain, anchoring the innings with authority and composure.
KL Rahul also chipped in with a solid 48 before falling just before lunch, with India reaching the break at 92 for 2. Despite heading into the match under overcast skies and on a surface that traditionally assists seamers early, England’s decision to bowl first backfired.
Ben Stokes removed debutant Sai Sudharsan for a duck on the stroke of lunch, but that was England’s last moment of control. Jaiswal and Gill steadied the innings post-lunch, with the left-hander bringing up his fifth Test hundred and the skipper stamping his authority with a classy ton of his own.
With the five-match series off to a fiery start, India’s strong showing on Day 1 — powered by centuries from Jaiswal and Gill, and a milestone knock from Pant — firmly put the visitors in control at Headingley.
Source: India Today