Rishabh Pant crosses 5000 international runs milestone with explosive knock against Australia

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has reached a major career milestone, surpassing 5,000 international runs across formats. The dynamic left-handed batter achieved this feat during the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Sydney.

Pant’s landmark moment came during a thrilling second-innings knock where he scored a quickfire 61 runs off just 33 balls. Known for his aggressive and fearless batting style, the 27-year-old took charge despite India’s challenging situation, smashing six fours and four sixes with a remarkable strike rate of 184.85.

After a cautious 40-run innings in the first innings, Pant returned to his big-hitting form in the second. Facing Australia’s in-form pacer Scott Boland, Pant launched an aggressive counterattack from the very first ball, sending it for a six. His second-innings knock of 61 was not only entertaining but also critical for India’s fightback in the final Test of the series.

Despite his efforts, Pant’s overall performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been a mixed bag. In five matches and nine innings, he accumulated 255 runs at an average of 28.33 and a strike rate of 59.02. While he managed one half-century, he struggled to convert promising starts into big scores, finishing as the sixth-highest run-getter of the series.

Pant’s journey to 5,000 international runs has been impressive. In 150 matches for India, he has scored 5,028 runs at an average of 33.97. His international career includes seven centuries and 23 half-centuries across formats.

Test cricket remains Pant’s most successful format. He has amassed 2,948 runs in 43 matches at an average of 42.11, with six centuries and 15 fifties. His highest Test score of 159* is a testament to his ability to play long innings in challenging conditions.

In One-Day Internationals (ODIs), Pant has played 31 matches, scoring 871 runs at an average of 33.50. He has one century and five fifties to his name, with his best score being an unbeaten 125*.

In the shortest format, T20 Internationals (T20Is), Pant has accumulated 1,209 runs in 76 matches at an average of 23.25 and a strike rate of 127.26. His T20I record includes four half-centuries, with a highest score of 65*.