Top five knocks by Indian wicketkeepers in Test cricket

Keeping wickets and batting well can be a hectic task. The pressure adds up if the format is Tests. Long hours on the field can be very tiring for the batters as they are constantly in the game. Topping it with good batting is an important task for any wicketkeeper. India has been able to produce many great keepers who have given many great performances with the bat. Here are the top five knocks by Indian wicketkeepers in Test cricket.

#5 MS Dhoni- 148 vs Pakistan, 2008

MS Dhoni (Image source- Twitter)

The hosts scored 588 in the first innings of the second Test of India's tour of Pakistan in 2005/06, with Shahid Afridi getting 156 off 128 balls. In response, India started well but crumbled from 2/236 to 5/281, leaving MS Dhoni and Irfan Pathan at the crease.

India needed another 107 runs to avoid a follow-on, but Dhoni remained calm under pressure. He played aggressively as is his nature and achieved his fifty in only 34 balls. He subsequently hit his century in 93 balls. His 148 was instrumental in India scoring 491 runs in the first innings. The game, however, ended in a draw.

#4 Nayan Mongia- 152 vs Australia, 1996

Nayan Mongia (Image source- Twitter)

In his time as an Indian player, Nayan Mongia was not renowned for his flashy batting or impressive numbers. However, on Australia's tour to India in 1996, Mongia struck his sole international century in a one-off Test. Batting first, the visitors were bowled for 182 runs, giving India a dominating advantage.

Mongia opened alongside Vikram Rathour, and while Rathour was bowled for five runs, Mongia and Sourav Ganguly put on a 131-run partnership for the second wicket. He smashed 18 fours and a six to score 152 runs in 366 balls. The match was subsequently won by India by seven wickets.

#3 Rishabh Pant- 89 vs Australia, 2021

Rishabh Pant (Image source- Twitter)

Rishabh Pant played a vital role when India created history by beating Australia in the away series for the second time. His innings of 89 runs at the Gabba was one of the finest innings that the southpaw has ever played. He played a fearless knock in the fifth and final match of the series.

Pant, who had been criticized for his international performances, silenced his detractors with a T20-style knock. India went on to win the match by three wickets and the series 2-1. They won the series with a score of 2-1. Pant has also pitched a heroic 97-run innings in the previous game.

#2 MS Dhoni- 224 runs vs Australia, 2013

MS Dhoni (Image source- Twitter)

Australia opted to bat first and achieved a respectable total of 380 in the first innings, led by skipper Michael Clarke's superb effort of 130. In response, India lost two early wickets before Pujara and Tendulkar resurrected the innings. When MS Dhoni stepped out to bat with Virat Kohli, India was 196/4.

The match appeared to be going India's way as the skipper took the crease. Dhoni's 224 helped India put 572 runs on the board and take a 192-run lead. Ultimately, India won the match by eight wickets, and Dhoni was named Man of the Match.

#1 Rishabh Pant- 146 runs vs England, 2022

Rishabh Pant (Image source- Twitter)

Rishabh Pant is the player who approaches the Test format just like he does T20 cricket. He has changed the orthodox thinking of taking time to settle in to score big runs. In the rescheduled fifth Test match, India was asked to bat first and collapsed to 98 after losing five early wickets.

Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja then brought back India into the game. While the former attacked, the latter batted smartly to score 222 runs for the sixth wicket. Notably, this is the highest sixth-wicket partnership by India against England.