XtraTime Web Desk: India’s young wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant who has made his debut at Trent Bridge in the ongoing test has already had a match to remember, with a five-for with the gloves after an impressive 24 with the bat.
Dinesh Karthik had replaced the injured Wriddhiman Saha as the No.1 wicket-keeper for the series, but mediocre performances behind and in front of the stumps in the first two Tests for Karthik meant a Test debut for Pant in the third game. And he has already had an excellent time.
The 20-year-old became the first Indian keeper to complete five catches on debut, proving his naysayers wrong. The batsmen dismissed as a result of Pant’s efforts behind the stumps were Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope, Chris Woakes, and Adil Rashid.
Keepers to effect five or more dismissals in their maiden Test innings
| Brian Taber (Australia) – against South Africa in Johannesburg, December 1966 |
| John Maclean (Australia) – against England in Brisbane, December 1978 |
| Rishabh Pant (India) – against England in Nottingham, August 2018 |
The left-handed batsman showed glimpses of his skills with the bat in the Indian first innings, scoring a 51-ball-24, which was a crucial contribution to the Indian total at that stage. Interestingly, he got off the mark with a six off Rashid, becoming the first Indian and only the 12th player overall to get his first Test runs with a maximum.
No Indian keeper has claimed more than three dismissals in their first Test innings.