Rishabh Pant Profile
The fearless left-handed wicketkeeper-batter who won India the Gabba Test, scored twin hundreds at Headingley and fought back from a near-fatal car crash. This is the complete story of Rishabh Pant.
By CricketGatha · Updated October 2026 · 9 min read
Rishabh Pant Quick Facts
| Full name | Rishabh Rajendra Pant |
| Born | 4 October 1997, Haridwar, Uttarakhand (age 29 as of October 2026) |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Batting / bowling | Left-handed / right-arm medium |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (170 cm) |
| Jersey number | 17 |
| Domestic team | Delhi |
| IPL team | Lucknow Super Giants (2025-26), Delhi Capitals before and from 2027 |
| T20I debut | 1 February 2017 v England, Bengaluru (cap 68) |
| Test debut | 18 August 2018 v England, Nottingham (cap 291) |
| ODI debut | 21 October 2018 v West Indies, Guwahati (cap 224) |
| Early coach | Tarak Sinha, Sonnet Cricket Academy |
Early Life and Background
Pant was born in Haridwar to Rajendra and Saroj Pant, in a Kumaoni family. At 12, he travelled with his mother to Delhi at weekends to train under coach Tarak Sinha at the Sonnet Cricket Academy. With no suitable accommodation in the city, the two stayed at a gurdwara in Moti Bagh.
In the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy, he scored 308 against Maharashtra, becoming the third-youngest Indian to score a first-class triple century, and also hit the fastest hundred in Ranji Trophy history, from 48 balls. His father passed away in April 2017, as his career was taking off.
Career Timeline
Rishabh Pant Career Stats
| Format | Matches | Runs | Highest | Average | 100s / 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 47 | 3,557 | 159* | 43.38 | 8 / 19 |
| ODI | 31 | 871 | 125* | 33.50 | 1 / 5 |
| T20I | 76 | 1,209 | 65* | 23.25 | 0 / 3 |
| IPL | 139 | 3,865 | 128* | 33.61 | 2 / 20 |
Behind the stumps, Pant has taken 158 catches and made 15 stumpings in Tests. In the IPL, he has 90 catches and 24 stumpings.
Major Records
Twin tons at Headingley
134 and 118 against England in 2025, making him the first Indian and only the second wicketkeeper after Andy Flower to score hundreds in both innings of a Test.
Fastest to 3,000 Test runs
He reached 3,000 Test runs in 76 innings, the fastest by an Indian wicketkeeper.
Hundreds in England and Australia
The first Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test century in each country, in 2018 and 2019.
Fastest Test fifty by an Indian
50 off 28 balls against Sri Lanka in 2022, breaking Kapil Dev’s record.
11 catches in a Test
The most by an Indian wicketkeeper in a single Test, in Adelaide in 2018.
Fastest to 50 dismissals and 1,000 runs
He reached both Test milestones quicker than any Indian wicketkeeper before him.
Greatest Innings
| Score | Match | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 114 | v England, The Oval, Test, 2018 | First Test hundred, the first by an Indian keeper in England |
| 159* | v Australia, Sydney, Test, 2019 | Highest Test score, the first Indian keeper hundred in Australia |
| 97 | v Australia, Sydney, Test, 2021 | Counter-attacking knock that helped India save the Test |
| 89* | v Australia, Brisbane, Test, 2021 | Chased 328 on the last day to win the series, ending Australia’s Gabba run since 1988 |
| 125* | v England, Old Trafford, ODI, 2022 | Maiden ODI hundred in a series-clinching win |
| 134 and 118 | v England, Headingley, Test, 2025 | Twin hundreds in the same Test |
| 128* (63) | DD v SRH, IPL 2018 | Highest IPL score by an Indian at the time |
The Comeback
On 30 December 2022, Pant was involved in a serious car crash on the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway near Roorkee. He suffered a ligament tear in his right knee along with injuries to his head, back and foot, and two rescuers pulled him from the car. Months of surgery and rehabilitation followed, and he missed all of 2023.
He returned as Delhi Capitals captain in the 2024 IPL, was named in India’s T20 World Cup squad, and his game management was praised in the final against South Africa as India won the title. A few months later he was back in Test cricket, and in 2025 he scored twin hundreds at Headingley.
Batting Style and Strengths
- Fearless stroke-making: He attacks bowlers of all types and plays unorthodox shots, such as the one-handed slog sweep and the reverse scoop.
- Match-winning in difficult conditions: His best innings have come in England, Australia and South Africa.
- Sharper keeping: He has worked hard on his glovework since 2018 and now stands out as one of India’s best Test keepers.
- Left-hand option: He gives India’s middle order a left-handed counter to spin.
Pant in the IPL
Pant played for Delhi from 2016 to 2024, captaining the franchise in 2021, 2022 and 2024. His best season was 2018, when he scored 684 runs, including an unbeaten 128 off 63 balls. In the 2025 auction, Lucknow Super Giants bought him for Rs 27 crore, the highest price in IPL history. He scored his second IPL hundred, 118*, against RCB in 2025, but his two seasons at Lucknow were poor for the team, and LSG finished last in 2026. He resigned as captain on 29 May 2026. He is listed to return to Delhi Capitals from the 2027 season.
Awards and Honours
ICC awards
Emerging Cricketer of the Year (2018), first-ever Player of the Month (January 2021), Test Team of the Year (2021)
ICC titles
T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025, as part of the squad
Runner-up
World Test Championship 2019-21 and Under-19 World Cup 2016
IPL
Rs 27 crore, the highest price ever paid for a player in the league
Latest News
Pant has been named in India’s 16-member Test squad for the two-Test tour of New Zealand (19 November to 1 December), but subject to fitness clearance after a recent injury concern. Dhruv Jurel is the second wicketkeeper in the squad, and KL Rahul is the vice-captain. His last white-ball international was in August 2024. See the full India tour of New Zealand guide, and read about his Test teammates Ravindra Jadeja and Shubman Gill.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Rishabh Pant?
He was born on 4 October 1997, so he is 29 as of October 2026.
How many Test centuries does Rishabh Pant have?
8 Test centuries as of November 2025, with a highest score of 159*.
Why was Rishabh Pant bought for Rs 27 crore?
Lucknow Super Giants paid Rs 27 crore at the 2025 IPL auction, the highest price in the league’s history, because of his match-winning ability and leadership.
Which IPL team does Rishabh Pant play for?
He played for Lucknow Super Giants in 2025 and 2026 and is listed to return to Delhi Capitals from 2027.
Is Rishabh Pant in India’s squad for New Zealand?
Yes, in the Test squad, subject to fitness clearance. He is not in the ODI or T20I squads.
What happened in Rishabh Pant’s accident?
He survived a serious car crash near Roorkee on 30 December 2022, suffered knee ligament and other injuries, and returned to cricket in the 2024 IPL.
