India’s Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant has set a new record for the most runs by a visiting wicketkeeper in a Test series in England.

Pant achieved the feat on Day 3 of the third Test against England at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on Saturday. The southpaw eclipsed the previous record of 383 runs registered by New Zealand’s Tom Blundell during the 2022 tour of England.

After Pant resumed his knock on the overnight score of 19 not out, the flamboyant Indian wicketkeeper-batter continued his scintillating form to notch up his 17th Test fifty off 86 balls.

Pant later departed for 74 after a run-out that ended an outstanding 141-run stand with KL Rahul. Pant’s impressive knock was laced with eight fours and two sixes.

With two centuries and two fifties, Pant has now amassed 416 runs in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at an average of 83.20.

Earlier on Day 1 of the ongoing Test, Pant suffered a painful finger injury and did not return for the rest of the innings. In his absence, Dhruv Jurel stepped in as his wicketkeeping substitute. Despite the injury, Pant showed resilience and walked out to bat on Day 2 with the score reading 107/3. He later continued his brilliance with the bat and slammed a superb half-century.

Meanwhile, Pant equalled MS Dhoni’s record of most fifties by a visiting wicketkeeper in England in Test cricket. While Pant recorded his eighth Test fifty on English soil in his 20th innings, Dhoni earlier registered the same number of Test fifties in 23 innings in England.

Additionally, Pant drew level with Dhoni for the most fifty-plus scores (13) by an Indian wicketkeeper in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) countries.

After smashing two maximums at Lord’s, Pant also now holds the record for the most sixes against England in Test cricket. With 36 sixes, Pant surpassed legendary Sir Viv Richards’ record of 34 maximums.

With 88 sixes in his Test career, the 27-year-old has smashed the second-most sixes by an Indian in cricket's longest format, equalling former India captain Rohit Sharma's record. Overall, Pant is just two sixes behind Virender Sehwag's all-time India record of 90 maximums in Test cricket.

Despite losing Pant before the end of the first session, India went to Lunch at 248/4, with KL Rahul unbeaten on 98. The visitors trail England by 139 runs.

Earlier, India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah bagged a five-wicket haul to bowl England out for 387 in their first innings.

Image Courtesy: BCCI