NEW DELHI: India’s star batter Rishabh Pant added another milestone to his career on Saturday, smashing the fastest Test fifty by an Indian against New Zealand on Day 2 of the third Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Pant reached his half-century in just 36 balls, surpassing Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 41-ball fifty set during the Pune Test last week.
Coming in to bat after a mini-collapse late on Day 1, Pant joined Shubman Gill for a brisk partnership. Both came out aggressively on Day 2, with Gill also reaching a fine half-century, as they propelled India past 150 in no time.
Pant’s quickfire 60, featuring eight fours and two sixes, helped shift the momentum back in India’s favor after the Kiwis had been gifted three late wickets on the opening day of the third Test, including key dismissals of Virat Kohli (4) and Jaiswal (30).
Pant had a lucky escape when Matt Henry dropped a straightforward catch at long-off off Glenn Phillips. However, his luck ran out as he was trapped lbw by Ish Sodhi when a ball stayed low.
The wicketkeeper-batter’s 60 off 59 balls, with 2 sixes and 8 fours, left a significant impact on India’s innings.