IND vs ENG: Rishabh Pant eyes MS Dhoni's massive record; Leeds Test to start on June 20

Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni (Agency Photos)
Rishabh Pant
has a chance to recover from his disappointing captaincy and batting performance for Lucknow Super Giants in
IPL
2025. He aims to surpass
MS Dhoni
's record as India's most successful wicketkeeper-batter.
Since beginning his Test career in 2018, Pant's overseas playing style has drawn varied descriptions from counterattacking and bold to risky and match-turning.
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His batting can both amaze and frustrate viewers as he alternates between stunning shots and hasty dismissals.
His ability to adapt to challenging conditions is evident with four of his six centuries coming in South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia (SENA).
His approach typically involves assessing the pitch through singles and doubles before shifting to more aggressive batting. His unpredictable style includes unique shots, from falling while batting to one-handed sixes.
Poll
How do you feel about Rishabh Pant's playing style?
It's exciting and unpredictable
It's too risky
It can be frustrating at times
One more century would make him the leading Indian wicketkeeper-batter in Tests with seven centuries, moving ahead of MS Dhoni's six.
In SENA conditions, Pant has accumulated 1,681 runs across 26 Tests and 48 innings, averaging 37.35 with four centuries and five fifties.
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He needs just one half-century to become the highest-scoring Asian wicketkeeper-batter in these conditions, surpassing Dhoni's 1,731 runs from 32 matches and 60 innings at an average of 31.47, including 13 fifties.
The upcoming England series is crucial for Pant, especially with 24-year-old Dhruv Jurel showing consistent performance for India A.
Despite his established position, Pant's recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy performance in Australia was below par, scoring 255 runs in nine innings at 28.33 with just one fifty.
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It was revealed almost exactly a year ago that Lawrence, who took 18 wickets in five Tests for England between 1988 and 1992, was the latest sportsperson to be diagnosed with motor neurone disease, an incurable illness which progressively damages parts of the nervous system. A statement from Lawrence's family said: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dave Lawrence MBE following his brave battle with motor neurone disease. "'Syd' was an inspirational figure on and off the cricket field and no more so than to his family, who were with him when he passed. "A proud Gloucestershire man, Syd took on every challenge with everything he could and his final contest with MND was no different. His willingness to encourage and think of others right up to the end was typical of the man he was." Rishabh on reaching 100 with a six When Bashir was bowling the previous over, I thought I should get to the hundred in that very over. I didn't want to play percentage cricket and take a risk, he bowled well, so I respected it and took a single. In the next over when he came, i told him 'if you keep the field close-in, I will hit the big shot'. Luckily, I was batting on 99. I was confident. But, I wanted to play to the merit of the ball. Rishabh on his celebration I had three celebrations in mind. One of them was 'let bat do the talking'. Then I thought, I will mine only. I have been doing it from my childhood (somersault). I trained in gymnastics in school. In school, I was doing gymnastics. I am very used to it. Even if you wake up me up in the middle of the night, I can do this somersault. After the accident, I had to work harder for this. I worked on it. It's now easy for me to do it. Rishabh on finding form in Test cricket In my mind, I wanted to cut down on a few shots (preparation for Tests after IPL). I wanted to play in the V. 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England were helped by some ordinary fielding on India's part, where they dropped three crucial catches. This allowed the batters to score freely and with confidence, as they crossed the 200-run mark inside the first 50 overs of their innings.