Rishabh Pant overtakes MS Dhoni to become India’s highest-scoring designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests, crossing 2,500 runs in Colombo
New Delhi: Rishabh Pant has added another major milestone to his growing Test career. The Indian wicketkeeper-batter surpassed MS Dhoni’s record of 2,496 runs as a designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests during the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Monday, August 24, 2026.
Pant crossed the 2,500-run mark and reached 2,501 runs at an average of 41.68 at the time of the milestone. Dhoni had finished with 2,496 runs at an average of 32.84 in this category.
The achievement is significant because Dhoni’s record had remained the benchmark for Indian wicketkeepers for more than a decade. Pant has now moved to the top while maintaining a considerably higher batting average.
Pant Becomes India’s Leading Wicketkeeper-Batter Away From Home
The leading Indian wicketkeepers in this category are:
| Rank | Player | Runs | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rishabh Pant | 2,501* | 41.68 |
| 2 | MS Dhoni | 2,496 | 32.84 |
| 3 | Farokh Engineer | 1,209 | 32.67 |
| 4 | Syed Kirmani | 1,109 | 21.74 |
| 5 | Kiran More | 901 | 29.06 |
Pant’s numbers stand out not only because of the total runs but also because of his average. He has scored more than Dhoni in this category while averaging almost nine runs more per dismissal.
The Record Came After a Scary Injury
Pant’s record-breaking innings became even more impressive because he had been forced to leave the field just a day earlier.
On Day 1 of the Colombo Test, Sri Lankan pacer Lahiru Kumara bowled a short delivery that struck Pant on his left arm while he attempted a pull shot. Pant had scored only three runs from 15 balls before walking off the field with the team physiotherapist.
There were concerns about whether he would be able to bat again in the match. However, Pant returned to the crease on Day 2 after Sri Lanka dismissed debutant Saransh Jain for six.
His comeback immediately became one of the key moments of the innings.
Pant and Jurel Rescue India’s Innings
Pant joined Dhruv Jurel after India lost their sixth wicket. The two wicketkeeper-batters then produced an important partnership that changed the momentum of the innings.
At lunch on Day 2, India had reached 419/6, with Pant unbeaten on 63 and Jurel on 59. The pair had put together an unbeaten 112-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Pant completed his 21st Test half-century and continued to attack despite Sri Lanka repeatedly using short-pitched bowling against him.
His innings was a mixture of patience and aggression, exactly the combination that has become a feature of his Test batting.
A Huge Six Adds to the Drama
Pant also produced one of the most talked-about shots of the day.
He smashed a huge six off Lahiru Kumara that travelled an estimated 95 metres. The ball landed on the roof of the SSC ground and reportedly damaged a solar panel.
The shot was a reminder of Pant’s ability to change the momentum of a Test match with attacking strokes, even when bowlers are trying to put him under pressure.
Why Pant’s Record Is Special
Breaking Dhoni’s record carries extra significance because of the impact Dhoni had as India’s Test wicketkeeper-batter.
Dhoni scored 2,496 runs as a designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests, averaging 32.84. Pant has now gone past that figure with an average of 41.68 at the time of the record.
Pant has also developed a reputation for producing important performances outside India. His Test career has included memorable overseas contributions, and his aggressive batting has made him one of the most dangerous wicketkeeper-batters in modern Test cricket.
Another Milestone in a Record-Breaking Year
The Dhoni record is not Pant’s only major achievement on this Sri Lanka tour.
Earlier in the first Test in Galle, Pant became the first Indian batter to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket. He reached the landmark during his second-innings 66 and became only the fourth batter overall to reach 100 Test sixes, after Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum and Adam Gilchrist. He also reached the mark faster than the previous record-holder Gilchrist in terms of balls faced.
Pant’s latest achievement therefore adds to an already remarkable run of milestones.
India in a Strong Position in Colombo
Pant’s record came at an important stage of the second Test. India had finished Day 1 on 300/5, with Devdutt Padikkal scoring a century. Pant’s injury had been one of the major concerns of the opening day.
His return alongside Jurel helped India move beyond 400 and put the visitors in a strong position during the second morning.
India had already taken a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series after winning the first Test in Galle by 165 runs. The Colombo match is the final Test of the series.
Pant’s Record Continues to Grow
At just 28, Pant has already established himself as one of India’s most productive wicketkeeper-batters in Test cricket. His latest record is particularly notable because it combines longevity, consistency and performance in overseas conditions.
Surpassing Dhoni’s tally is not simply about adding five more runs to a statistical record. It represents Pant’s growing influence in Test cricket and his ability to perform away from home.
And with the Colombo Test still in progress when the milestone was reported, Pant’s tally could rise further before the innings ends.
