Rishabh Pant will be chasing a sensational record in the one-off Test between India and Afghanistan, which is set to start from June 6. Right after concluding the one-off Test, the two teams will also lock horns with each other for three ODIs.
The assignment kicks off with the lone Test match, starting June 6 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. Several star performers from both line-ups will be under the spotlight, looking to make a decisive impact right from the opening day.
Among those drawing the most attention is India's ace wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. Coming off a challenging IPL season, Pant will be highly motivated to make a strong statement in the red-ball format. The upcoming match also offers the dynamic batter a rare opportunity to script a historic milestone in Indian cricket.
Rishabh Pant to become first Indian cricketer to hit 100 sixes in Tests
Pant is on the verge of becoming the first Indian cricketer ever to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket. He currently sits at the top of the national list with 94 sixes and needs just six more during the match against Afghanistan to reach the landmark. If he achieves this feat, the 28-year-old will join an elite global club, becoming only the fourth player in the history of the game to clear the ropes 100 times in Test cricket.
Rishabh Pant heads into the upcoming Test match with a strong desire to get back among the runs following a challenging season in the IPL. Leading the Lucknow Super Giants, the star wicketkeeper-batsman endured a tough campaign, managing to score only 312 runs across 14 games while operating at a strike rate of 138.05.
The tournament proved to be a difficult collective experience as well, with Lucknow becoming one of the earliest teams to be eliminated before ultimately finishing at the bottom of the standings in 10th place. After enduring back-to-back seasons of disappointment in the T20 format, Pant will be looking to hit the reset button, approach the red-ball fixture against Afghanistan with a fresh mindset, and recapture his signature Test match form.
India’s squad for off-off Test against Afghanistan:
Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul (VC), Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), Devdutt Padikkal, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey