IND v ENG: Big milestone! Pant scripts SENA history with explosive knock

Rishabh Pant added another feather to his already illustrious cap on Saturday by becoming the first Asian wicketkeeper-batter to score 2,000 Test runs as a designated keeper in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) — a landmark that underlines his status as one of the most impactful wicketkeeper-batters in modern-day cricket.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Pant reached the milestone during his enterprising second-innings knock of 65 off just 58 balls in the ongoing second Test against England at Edgbaston. His innings featured eight fours and three sixes, blending aggression with purpose as he helped India consolidate their mammoth lead. This knock came after a modest 25 in the first innings but further solidified his growing reputation as a big-match player, especially in challenging overseas conditions.

With this, Pant has now scored 2,023 runs in 28 SENA Tests at a healthy average of 41.28, including six centuries and six fifties, with a best of 159 not out.

In the current England series, Pant is India’s second-highest run-getter, amassing 342 runs in four innings at an average of 85.50 and a remarkable strike rate of 81.81, including two centuries and one fifty, with a highest score of 134.Pant also shattered a long-standing record during his explosive Edgbaston innings — he now holds the record for the most sixes by a visiting batter in Tests in England, hitting 24 sixes, surpassing Ben Stokes’ previous mark of 21 sixes in South Africa.

His contributions were central to India’s historic effort with the bat, as they piled up 1,014 runs at Edgbaston, their highest-ever aggregate in a Test match, eclipsing the 916 against Australia at the SCG in 2004. It’s only the sixth instance of a team scoring over 1,000 runs in a single Test match.