Rishabh Pant hit a 28-ball fifty on Day 2 of the Pink-ball Test vs Sri Lanka, surpasses Kapil Dev's record

Rishabh Pant took the Bengaluru crowd on a thrill ride on Day 2 of the ongoing Pink-ball Test against Sri Lank, hitting the fastest fifty by an Indian in Test cricket. Pant got to Phis half-century in just 28 balls, breaking Kapil Dev's record from 1982 when the former World Cup-winning captain hit a fifty in just 30 balls against Pakistan in Karachi.

Pant smashed 7 boundaries and 2 sixes as he went after the Sri Lankan bowling attack from the word go on a pitch where bowlers were dominating with the pink cherry. Pant got out right after getting to his fifty in a bid to hit another one into the stands at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

FASTEST TEST FIFTIES FOR INDIA

Rishabh Pant - 50 off 28 balls vs Sri Lanka in Bengaluru in 2022

Kapil Dev - 50 off 30 balls vs Pakistan in Karachi in 1982

Shardul Thakur - 50 off 31 balls vs England in London in 2021

Virender Sehwag - 50 off 32 balls vs England in Chennai in 2008

Notably, Pant became the first baiter in the history of Test cricket to score 30-plus in both the innings of a match at a strike rate of over 150.

PANT IN PINK_BALL



TEST

1st innings: 39 off 26 (Strike Rate:150.00)

2nd innings: 50 off 31 (Strike Rate: 161.29)

Pant, who is known for his fearless approach, used that attribute to good effect on a pitch where batters looked to score quick, knowing that blocking will not help. Pant began his knock by dancing down the wicket and smashing one into the mid-wicket stands, making his intentions clear.

He played a late cut that nearly shaved off the stump, played reverse sweeps and danced down the track against the off-spinner to hit him over the long-off boundary, showcasing his range in front of a packed crowd in Bengaluru.

Pant's quick 50 made sure India reached 199/5 at Tea on Day 2, stretching their lead to 342 runs in the pink-ball Test.

Earlier in the day, Virat Kohli got out to another low-kept delivery as he looked frustrated after getting LBW to Pravin Jayawickrama. Rohit Sharma and Hanuma Vihari stitched a 55-run stand after India lost Mayank Agarwal early.

However, Rohi (46) missed out on a fifty after getting out to de Silva while Vihari was castled by Jayawickrame, who overcame a knee injury, to pick up 3 wickets before Tea.