IND vs NZ, 1st Test: Rishabh Pant Bounces Back From Knee Injury, Scores Quick Half Century Against New Zealand In Bengaluru

IND vs NZ, 1st Test: India's star wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant fought through a knee injury and scored a quick fifty on the fourth day of the series opener against New Zealand on Saturday. Pant came into bat with heavy strapping and joined Sarfaraz Khan in the middle. He didn't play on the third day owing to a swelling on his knee. He was seen walking off the field on the second day as the ball had hit his right knee and it was the same knee that underwent three surgeries after that fatal car accident. Despite all this, he rose to the occasion and helped his team bounce back.

Pant was seen struggling initially as he was taking runs. But then he brought his beast form by playing some brilliant shots and tried to pressurize the visitors. He quickly scored his 12th fifty in the longest format off just 55 balls. In this scintillating innings, he had hit four fours and three sixes. He also leveled Farokh Engineer's record of scoring the most fifty-plus scores as a wicket-keeper in the longest format. MS Dhoni is leading this elite list as he has smashed 39 half-centuries under his kitty.

Most 50-plus scores among India wicket-keepers in Tests:

39 - MS Dhoni (144 innings)

18 - Farokh Engineer (87 innings)

18 - Rishabh Pant (62 innings)

14 - Syed Kirmani (124 innings)

Also Read: Sarfaraz Khan smashes maiden Test century against New Zealand in Bengaluru

Pant and Sarfaraz stitched a partnership of 100 runs but then the match was stopped due to incessant rain during the first session.