Top 5 Rishabh Pant Test innings that show his batting brilliance

Rishabh Pant is celebrating his 29th birthday today, October 4. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter is known for his fearless approach, positive mindset and ability to perform under pressure. These qualities have played a key role in his successful Test career.

Pant has changed the way an attacking wicketkeeper-batter can influence Test cricket. His aggressive strokeplay, combined with a good understanding of match situations, has produced some memorable performances for India in red-ball cricket.

His best Test innings have often come when India needed a change in momentum. From chasing difficult targets in Australia to fighting back in England and taking on spin in India, Pant has shown great confidence and skill. In this article, we will look at the top five Rishabh Pant Test innings that show his batting brilliance.

5. 114 vs England, The Oval, 2018

Rishabh Pant’s 114 at The Oval was one of the innings that announced his arrival on the international Test stage. Only 20 years old and playing his third Test, Pant came to the crease with India struggling at 121/5 while chasing a huge target of 464 runs in the final Test of the series. England had scored 332 in the first innings and declared at 423/8 in the second innings.

Pant joined KL Rahul, who scored a brilliant 146, and launched a strong counterattack against the experienced England bowling attack. He scored 114 runs off 146 balls, including 15 fours and four sixes. Pant reached his maiden Test century by hitting Adil Rashid for a six over mid-wicket. With this knock, he became the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a Test century in England.

India eventually lost the match by 118 runs, but Pant’s performance remained a major highlight. Why it matters: The innings showed early in his career that Pant’s fearless and attacking style could succeed in Test cricket. It also gave a glimpse of the impact he could have with the bat at the highest level.

4. 101 vs England, Ahmedabad, 2021

Rishabh Pant’s century in Ahmedabad showed that his aggressive batting was not limited to overseas conditions. On a dry and turning pitch, where batting was difficult, Pant started carefully before increasing the scoring rate. His ability to understand the situation and change gears at the right time played a key role in his innings.

One of the most memorable shots came against James Anderson with the new ball. Pant played a daring reverse-lap over the slip cordon for four, showing the unconventional stroke range that had become a major part of his batting. He eventually scored 101 runs from 118 balls and helped India take control of the match.

India won the Test by an innings and 25 runs, securing their place in the inaugural ICC World Test Championship Final. Why it matters: Pant combined his natural attacking style with good match awareness. The innings showed that he could take calculated risks even on difficult pitches and still make a major impact for India.

3. 134 vs England, Leeds, 2025

Rishabh Pant’s 134 at Leeds was another memorable Test century on English soil. It was his third Test hundred in England and came at the start of his tenure as India’s Test vice-captain. Pant played with confidence and attacked the English bowling attack from the beginning, making a strong statement in the opening Test of India’s 2025 tour.

Pant followed his first-innings century with another hundred in the second innings, scoring 118 runs. With this, he became the first Indian batter to score centuries in both innings of a Test match in England. His ability to maintain the same level of aggression across both innings made the performance even more impressive.

The two centuries highlighted Pant’s consistency and attacking approach in English conditions. Why it matters: The Leeds Test showed that Pant had developed into a more mature Test batter while still keeping his natural aggressive style. His twin centuries also added another special achievement to his Test career.

2. 146 vs England, Edgbaston, 2022

Rishabh Pant’s 146 at Edgbaston remains one of his most destructive Test innings. India were struggling at 98/5 on a seam-friendly pitch, with England’s bowlers putting the middle order under pressure. Instead of allowing the innings to collapse, Pant took the attack to the opposition and changed the momentum of the match.

Pant formed a crucial partnership with Ravindra Jadeja and reached his century in just 89 balls. He went on to score 146 runs from 111 balls, including 19 fours and four sixes. One of the standout moments came when he advanced down the pitch against Jack Leach and hit him for a powerful straight six.

Although India eventually lost the Test by seven wickets, Pant’s innings remained one of the biggest highlights of the match. Why it ranks so highly: Pant did more than score quickly. He attacked when India were under serious pressure and forced England to change their bowling and fielding plans.

1. 89* vs Australia, The Gabba, 2021

Rishabh Pant’s unbeaten 89 at the Gabba remains the defining innings of his Test career. India entered the fourth Test needing 328 runs to win a series in which Australia had not lost at Brisbane since 1988. The target looked extremely difficult, especially on the fifth day, but Pant played the situation brilliantly.

After Cheteshwar Pujara absorbed pressure, Pant provided the acceleration India needed. He took calculated risks against an Australian attack featuring Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon while switching smoothly between defence and attack. His unbeaten 89 from 138 balls kept India in the chase until the decisive moment, when he hit the winning boundary through the covers against Lyon.

India completed a historic three-wicket victory and won the series 2-1, ending Australia’s long unbeaten run at the Gabba. Why this innings ranks No. 1: Pant’s unbeaten 89 was more than just a match-winning knock. It became one of the most memorable moments in Indian Test cricket and cemented his reputation as a player who could deliver under the biggest pressure.

Notable Mention: 

97 vs Australia, Sydney, 2021

Rishabh Pant’s 97 at the Sydney Cricket Ground may not be as famous as his Gabba heroics, but it played an important role in India’s historic series victory. Australia had set India a challenging target of 407 runs in the fourth innings. With a draw looking like the most realistic result, Pant was promoted to No. 5 and took the attack to the Australian bowlers despite carrying an abdominal injury.

Pant scored 97 runs from 118 balls, hitting 12 fours and three sixes. His attacking approach put Australia under pressure and turned a defensive chase into a genuine attempt to win the match. He came close to his century before being dismissed for 97, but his innings had already changed the course of the game.

Pant’s knock helped India secure a famous draw and avoid going 2-1 down in the series. The innings also gave India valuable momentum before the decisive Brisbane Test, where they won by three wickets to claim the series 2-1.