India's star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant on December 15 scripted history at The Gabba, Brisbane. Pant became the third Indian wicketkeeper to complete 150 dismissals in Test cricket. He reached the milestone early in the first session on Day 2 with Usman Khawaja's catch off Jasprit Bumrah's bowling.
Pant has 135 catches and 15 stumpings in Test cricket so far from 41 Tests. The top spot belongs to legendary Indian captain MS Dhoni with 294 dismissals including 256 catches and 38 stumpings from 90 Tests. The second wicketkeeper on the list is Syed Kirmani who has 160 dismissals from 88 Tests including 160 catches and 38 stumpings.
The only other Indian wicketkeeper with more than 100 dismissals in Test cricket is Kiran More. From 49 Tests, More had 130 dismissals including 110 catches and 20 stumpings.
Pant has the best dismissals per inning record for an Indian wicketekeeper with 15 or more dismissals in Test cricket. The southpaw's dismissals per inning is 1.875 compared to Dhoni and Kirmani's 1.771 and 1.311 respectively.
The 27-year-old has fond memories at The Gabba. In the 2020-21 tour, he scored an unbeaten 89 in the run chase of 328 to get India over the line with three wickets to spare.
Pant on coming back to The Gabba
Before the Day 1's play, then head coach Ravi Shastri asked Pant how he felt on coming back to Brisbane.
"It's amazing, when I entered (The Gabba) I got a positive feeling. It gives a positive attitude and confidence in a series where things are level, it makes you want to do well. Playing the situation has been a learning for me, bailing out the team from a hard situation. Sometimes it's hard, most of the time I need to keep telling myself to think positive. There are easy ways to do it but that's where I put my foot down and keep doing the same thing that has given me a lot of success," the explosive batter told the broadcaster.
Pant's run in ongoing series so far
Pant will look to post a good score at The Gabba. In the first two Tests, he managed to score 87 runs. His plans to counterattack Australian bowlers have not worked so far. He was dismissed after playing himself on three occassions.
