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India’s hard-hitting batter Rishabh Pant became the first Indian wicketkeeper to hit a century in South Africa. Pant reached his fourth Test century from 133 deliveries while batting with the tail after skipper Virat Kohli’s wicket in the second session. With the century, Pant surpassed MS Dhoni’s 90-run record of most runs by a wicketkeeper in an innings in South Africa. Dhoni's 90-run knock came in Centurion over 11 years ago.
The 24-year-old is the first Asian wicketkeeper-batter to score a century in South Africa. He is also the youngest visiting wicketkeeper-batter to score a century in South Africa. The previous record belonged to England's wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow (26 years and 98 days). During his record-breaking knock, he hit four sixes making him the first Indian batter to hit two two or more sixes in a Test in South Africa.
Coming to bat after two quick wickets in form of veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, Pant launched a brutal counter-attack against a rampant South African pace attack in the first session of Day 3 at the Newlands, Cape Town. He did the bulk of scoring in the crucial 94-run partnership with Kohli and then batted with the tail to reach his fourth Test century on South Africa soil. He surpassed Wriddhiman Saha too who has three Test centuries. Now, he is only behind MS Dhoni, who has scored six Test centuries as wicketkeeper for India.
After drawing flak for his shot in the second innings of the Johannesburg Test, Pant was at his aggressive-yet cautious best as he helped India post a fighting total in the series decider. The southpaw reached his half-century off 58 deliveries and then took time to reach his century with wickets falling at the other end. He was stranded at the other end as he remained unbeaten for 100 off 139 deliveries. His innings included six fours and four sixes.
