Rishabh Pant

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Pant's journey is defined by resilience and historic turning points. At age 12, he traveled weekly from Haridwar to Delhi with his mother, staying at a Gurdwara in Moti Bagh due to a lack of accommodation while training under Tarak Sinha. His career-defining moment came during a U-19 match against Assam; after scoring 35 in the first innings, he hit an unbeaten 150 in the second, which he considers his most important knock. On 30 January 2016, he set a world record for the fastest fifty (18 balls) at the Under-19 World Cup against Nepal. Tragically, over a year later on 6 April 2017, his father died of a cardiac arrest. Despite these challenges, Pant continued to break records, including scoring a triple century (308 runs) in the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy and becoming the second-youngest to score a triple century in the Ranji Trophy.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Rishabh Pant is one of rapid ascension and record-breaking performances. He made his T20I debut for India on 1 February 2017 against England, becoming the youngest player to do so at 19 years and 120 days. His Test debut followed in August 2018 against England, where he became the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a century on English soil. In January 2019, during a Test against Australia, he made history as the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a Test century in Australia. Leadership roles arrived early; in June 2022, after KL Rahul was ruled out due to injury, Pant captained India in a T20I series against South Africa at age 24 years and 248 days, becoming the second-youngest captain. His international career culminated as a key member of the Indian teams that won the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Reader's Guide

Pant's IPL history is marked by explosive innings and significant leadership shifts. In the 2018 season, he scored an unbeaten 128 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, which was then the highest individual score by an Indian in IPL history. He served as captain for Delhi Capitals during the 2021 and 2022 seasons after Shreyas Iyer was injured. A major pivot occurred in 2024 when Delhi released him; he was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crore (US$2.8 million) in the 2025 auction, becoming the most expensive player in IPL history. On 21 January, the owner announced him as the captain for the 2025 season. He scored his second IPL century against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Ekana Cricket Stadium that year. However, following a poor performance in the 2026 season both as a player and captain, he resigned from the leadership role.

Did You Know?

• Pant stayed at a Gurdwara in Moti Bagh with his mother during training weekends as he lacked accommodation in Delhi.
• He scored an unbeaten 150 against Assam in U-19 cricket, which he cites as the most important knock of his career.
• On 6 April 2017, over a year after his Under-19 World Cup success, his father died of a cardiac arrest.
• In the Sydney Test from 3–7 January 2019, Pant took eleven catches in a single Test match against Australia, setting an Indian record for wicket-keepers.
• He was bought for ₹27 crore by Lucknow Super Giants in the 2025 auction, becoming the most expensive player in IPL history.

Rising from Humble Beginnings

Born into a Kumaoni family in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, Pant's early life required immense sacrifice. He began traveling with his mother to Delhi at age 12 for weekend training sessions under Tarak Sinha at the Sonnet Cricket Academy. Without suitable housing, they stayed at a Gurdwara in Moti Bagh. Although mentors suggested switching to Rajasthan, he remained in Delhi. His breakthrough came during a U-19 match against Assam where he scored 35 and then 150, a knock he deemed the most important of his career. On 1 February 2016, he hit an 18-ball fifty against Nepal, the fastest at that level in the Under-19 World Cup. His father, Rajendra Pant, passed away from cardiac arrest on 6 April 2017.

Domestic Dominance and Records

Pant made his first-class debut on 22 October 2015. In the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy against Maharashtra, he scored 308 runs in an innings, becoming the third-youngest Indian to score a triple century. On 8 November 2016, he recorded the fastest Ranji Trophy century (48 balls) against Jharkhand. In February 2017, at age 19, he was named Delhi's captain for the Vijay Hazare Trophy, succeeding Gautam Gambhir. His T20 domestic prowess was highlighted on 14 January 2018, when he scored a century off 32 balls against Himachal Pradesh, the second-fastest in Twenty20 history.

International Breakthrough and Captaincy

Pant debuted in T20Is on 1 February 2017 against England. His Test debut was on 18 August 2018 against England, where he became the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a century abroad. On 11 September 2018, he scored his maiden Test century in that series. In December 2018 against Australia, he took eleven catches in a match, an Indian record for a wicket-keeper. By January 2019, he became the first Indian wicket-keeper to score a Test century in Australia. He was named captain of India's T20I squad against South Africa in June 2022 after KL Rahul's injury, leading at age 24 years and 248 days. He was part of the squads that won the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy.

IPL Stardom and Leadership Evolution

Bought by Delhi Daredevils in 2016, Pant scored an unbeaten 128 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018. He captained Delhi Capitals in the 2021 and 2022 seasons after Shreyas Iyer's injury. In the 2024 auction, he was released by Delhi and bought by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history. Appointed captain on 21 January for the 2025 season, he scored a century against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Following a poor 2026 campaign as both captain and player, he resigned from his leadership position.