January 4, 2025: Rishabh Pant’s achievement of 5,000 international runs is a major milestone in his career, marking him as one of India’s most explosive and versatile batsmen across formats. His swashbuckling knock of 61 runs in just 33 balls during the second innings of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy was a perfect example of his aggressive style, with a strike rate of 184.85 that demonstrates his ability to turn matches around in an instant. It’s always exciting to see Pant’s fearless approach, especially when he takes on top-quality bowlers like Scott Boland, as he did with a six off his first ball.
Pant has proven himself to be a match-winner on many occasions, and this milestone further solidifies his reputation as one of India’s most dynamic wicketkeeper-batters. His ability to adapt and take risks under pressure, whether in Test cricket, ODIs, or T20Is, makes him a key player for India in all formats.
Here’s a closer look at his numbers:
- Total Runs: 5,028 runs from 150 international matches
- Batting Average: 33.97
- Centuries: 7 centuries
- Fifties: 23 fifties
- Best Score: 159* (Test)
Test Cricket (Pant’s best format):
- Runs: 2,948 from 43 matches
- Average: 42.11
- Centuries: 6
- Fifties: 15
- Best Score: 159*
ODIs:
- Runs: 871 from 31 matches
- Average: 33.50
- Century: 1 century, 5 fifties
- Best Score: 125*
T20Is:
- Runs: 1,209 from 76 matches
- Average: 23.25
- Strike Rate: 127.26
- Best Score: 65*
Despite not being at his absolute best during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (with 255 runs in five matches at an average of 28.33), Pant has continued to play with the same fearless intent. Even when not converting his starts into big knocks, his impact in quick bursts—like the 61 in 33 balls—remains invaluable.
Pant’s Test batting average of 42.11 stands out, particularly for a player in the middle-order, and his ability to dominate with both bat and gloves in challenging conditions makes him a vital asset for India in the longest format. His aggressive style in white-ball cricket, though slightly more inconsistent, has been a hallmark of his game, and his strike rate of 127.26 in T20Is shows that he can still turn the game around in a matter of overs.
His journey from an exciting young talent to a reliable match-winner is inspiring, and with his natural flair and ability to rise to the occasion, he looks set to achieve many more milestones in the future.
What are your thoughts on Pant’s growth over the years, and do you see him continuing to play a crucial role for India, especially in the longer formats?
