IND vs NZ: Rishabh Pant shatters Yashasvi Jaiswal's record with 36-ball fifty in Mumbai test

Rishabh Pant’s fifty helped India take first-innings lead in third IND vs NZ test.

Coming on the back of an emphatic series win, New Zealand posted a challenging total of 235 runs in the first innings of the third and final test match of the series, which is being played at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

India, who had initially shown promise, stumbled at the end of day one, losing key wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli to find themselves in a state of bother at 84/4.

The Indian fightback came on the second day with wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill counterattacking the Kiwi spinners to bring back the game in balance.

The young duo maintained an impressive run rate, scoring at nearly six runs an over. Pant’s fearless shot-making was well complemented by Gill’s solid technique who survived a dropped catch on 45 by Mark Chapman. The duo added 96 runs for the fifth wicket, putting the pressure back on the Kiwis.

Pant breaks Jaiswal’s record with rapid fifty

Rishabh Pant entertained the Mumbai crowd with his free-flowing strokeplay. The southpaw reached completed his half-century in just 36 balls, setting a new Indian record for the fastest test fifty against New Zealand.

This feat was previously held by Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal’s blistering 41 ball half-century (previous record) came in the second test of the IND vs NZ 2024 series in Pune.

Pant’s blistering knock featured seven boundaries and two towering sixes. Pant’s aggressive approach helped Shubman Gill on the other end, making the New Zealand spinners change their line and lengths on the spin-friendly Mumbai wicket.

Notably, this wasn’t Pant’s first record-breaking performance, Pant also holds the Indian record for the fastest fifty in test cricket. Pant achieved this impressive feat in just 28 balls against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru in 2022.

With the pitch deteriorating even further, India’s 23-run lead in the first innings can prove to be the key. The Indian team will try to bundle out the Kiwis as soon as possible. Batting in the last innings can prove to be a monumental task for the Asian giants.

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