Rishabh Pant (full name: Rishabh Rajendra Pant; born 4 October 1997) is an Indian international cricketer who represents India in all three formats. He is a wicketkeeper-batsman known for his left-handed batting style and occasional right-arm medium bowling. Pant has played domestic cricket for Delhi and in the Indian Premier League for Delhi Capitals, where he has also served as captain.
Career Highlights
| Achievement | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | 1997 | Rishabh Rajendra Pant |
| Born | 1997 | 4 October 1997 |
| Birthplace | 1997 | Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India |
| Spouse | — | Unmarried |
| Role | — | Wicketkeeper-batsman |
| Batting Style | — | Left-handed |
| International Debut | 2017 | T20I debut vs England |
| ODI Debut | 2018 | vs West Indies |
| Test Debut | 2018 | vs England |
| Test Century | 2018 | Maiden century vs England at The Oval |
| T20I Century | — | No century (as of latest records) |
| IPL Team | 2016–present | Delhi Capitals (Captain) |
| Captaincy | 2021 | Appointed DC captain |
| Notable Records | — | First Indian wicketkeeper to score Test centuries in England and Australia |
| Jersey Number | — | 17 |
Rishabh Pant is considered one of India’s key wicketkeeper-batsmen in modern cricket. He has played significant roles in Test victories overseas, particularly in England and Australia. Pant’s performances have contributed to India’s success in multiple formats, and he has been recognized for his ability to score quickly under pressure. In domestic and franchise cricket, he has been a consistent performer, especially in the IPL. His dual role as a wicketkeeper and middle-order batsman has added balance to the Indian team. Over time, Pant has also taken on leadership responsibilities, including captaincy roles in franchise cricket.
Early Life and Background
Rishabh Pant was born in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, and raised in Roorkee. He comes from a middle-class family, and his father, Rajendra Pant, supported his interest in cricket from a young age.
Pant moved to Delhi during his early teenage years to pursue cricket training. He trained under coach Tarak Sinha at the Sonnet Cricket Academy. His early cricket development took place in Delhi’s competitive cricket environment.
He completed his schooling at The Indian Public School in Dehradun. Pant progressed through age-group cricket and represented Delhi at various junior levels.
Domestic Career
Pant made his debut for Delhi in domestic cricket and quickly established himself as a promising wicketkeeper-batsman. He gained recognition during the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy season.
In that season, he scored a triple century (308) against Maharashtra and a 48-ball century against Jharkhand, one of the fastest centuries in Ranji Trophy history.
His performances in domestic cricket led to his selection in the Indian national team. Pant also played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, contributing consistently.
International Career
Test Career
Pant made his Test debut in 2018 against England. He scored his maiden Test century at The Oval in the same series.
He later scored a century in Australia, becoming the first Indian wicketkeeper to score Test centuries in both England and Australia.
Pant played a key role in India’s Test series win in Australia (2020–21), including a match-winning innings at the Gabba.
ODI Career
Pant made his ODI debut in 2018 against the West Indies. He has played as a middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper.
He scored his maiden ODI century against England in 2022, contributing to India’s victory in the series.
Pant has participated in ICC tournaments, including the Cricket World Cup.
T20I Career
Pant made his T20I debut in 2017 against England. He has played as a wicketkeeper-batsman in the shortest format.
He has contributed in middle-order roles and has maintained a competitive strike rate in T20 internationals.
Indian Premier League (IPL) Career
Rishabh Pant has been associated with Delhi Capitals since 2016.
He gained attention in the IPL with his aggressive batting, including a 128* against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018.
Pant was appointed captain of Delhi Capitals in 2021. Under his leadership, the team reached the playoffs.
He has been one of the leading run-scorers for Delhi Capitals and has maintained a high strike rate in the tournament.
Playing Style
Pant is a left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman known for his attacking approach.
His batting is characterized by:
- Aggressive stroke play
- Ability to score quickly
- Strong performance in pressure situations
He is also recognized for unconventional shot selection.
His weaknesses have included inconsistency in shot selection at times.
Compared to other wicketkeepers, Pant is noted for his aggressive batting style in Test cricket.
Records and Achievements
- First Indian wicketkeeper to score Test centuries in England and Australia
- One of the fastest centuries in Ranji Trophy history
- Key contributor in India’s Test series win in Australia (2020–21)
- Century in ODI cricket against England (2022)
- Multiple IPL high-score innings
Personal Life
Rishabh Pant comes from a family based in Uttarakhand. His father passed away in 2017.
He is unmarried. Pant has been publicly associated with model and entrepreneur Isha Negi.
He has interests in fitness and sports training outside cricket.
Awards and Honours
- Named in ICC Test Team of the Year
- BCCI awards for domestic and international performances
- Recognized for match-winning performances in Test cricket
