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When Rishabh Pant's Fastest Ever Ranji Trophy Hundred Saved Delhi From Follow-On

Rishabh Pant became Delhi's crisis man in first Ranji Trophy season (X.com)Rishabh Pant became Delhi's crisis man in first Ranji Trophy season (X.com)

A young, promising wicket-keeping batter, Rishabh Pant, stamped his authority in his first-ever Ranji Trophy season back in 2016 as he slammed dual centuries to save Delhi from a humiliating follow-on loss against Jharkhand.

Having risen to fame from a successful U-19 World Cup campaign, it was time for Rishabh Pant to prove himself in the domestic circuit. He was picked in Delhi’s squad for the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season and put in a spot during a game against Jharkhand in Tumba.

After Jharkhand had posted a daunting 493 total in their first innings, Delhi found themselves in a precarious position, facing the threat of a follow-on. While Rishabh Pant scored 117 off 106 balls, it wasn’t enough as the Jharkhand skipper summoned Delhi to follow on.

Pant's show in Ranji Trophy!

In the second innings, Pant walked to the crease with Delhi under considerable pressure. But what followed was a remarkable display of aggressive batting that left both the opposition and spectators in awe.

Rishabh Pant took the attack to the Jharkhand bowlers from the outset, unleashing a flurry of boundaries and sixes. He smashed his way to a century off just 48 balls, the fastest in Ranji Trophy’s history.

His rapid century not only helped Delhi avert the follow-on but also shifted the momentum of the match. Rishabh Pant scored 135 off 67 balls overall, and the match ended in a draw. 

That match put Rishabh Pant on the map as he finished the tournament with 972 runs and four hundreds. It eventually contributed to his fast-tracked promotion to the national team.

Rishabh Pant returns to Test cricket after near-fatal car accident

Indian wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant encountered a life-threatening road accident on New Year’s Eve in 2022. He was bedridden for months and underwent multiple surgeries.

While many pundits wrote him off, Rishabh Pant returned to the field in just 15 months with aggressive rehabilitation and intense training. Now, Pant is all set to don the whites again after two years of layoffs.

He was picked in the 16-member squad for the upcoming Bangladesh Tests series and is also expected to feature in the Border Gavaskar trophy later in the year.