Rishabh Pant is set to play his landmark 50th Test match against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh starting Saturday, 7 June 2025, and former national selector Devang Gandhi has used the occasion to crown the 28-year-old southpaw as the finest wicket-keeper batter India has ever produced in the longer format.

The Numbers Behind the Milestone

In 49 Tests to date, Pant has accumulated 3,476 runs at an average of 42.91 and a strike-rate of 74.24, studded with 8 centuries and 18 fifties. His overseas record — across England, South Africa, and Australia — has been the cornerstone of his reputation as a match-winner in the purest format.

Gandhi, who was on the selection panel when Pant made his Test debut against England at Trent Bridge in 2018, pointed to the often-overlooked evolution of his glove work. 'Nobody talks about his wicket-keeping. The way he has improved his keeping — whether it is India or abroad, he has been rock-solid as a wicket-keeper,' Gandhi said.

Gandhi's Defining Memory: The Gabba, January 2021

Asked to name his single most enduring image of Pant in whites, Gandhi did not pause. He pointed to the Gabba Test in January 2021, when Pant struck an unbeaten 89 off 138 balls as India chased down 328 to seal a stunning 2-1 series win over Australia — breaching a fortress Brisbane had been for the hosts in over three decades.

'On the final day, he believed he was going to single-handedly win the match, which he did. To stay till the end and win in Australia against their full side — that is the memory which will always remain with me,' Gandhi said.

The Vice-Captaincy Loss and the Road Back

The milestone arrives at a complicated moment in Pant's career. His tenure as captain of Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026 was underwhelming with the bat, and he subsequently lost the Test vice-captaincy to KL Rahul. His high-risk approach also drew scrutiny during the series against South Africa and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

Gandhi, however, framed the vice-captaincy decision as a considered move by the selectors rather than a demotion. 'Selectors are looking at him where he can just discover himself back as a batsman. We know how impactful a player he is in Test matches — he single-handedly won us so many matches,' he said. Gandhi added that he was confident chief selector Ajit Agarkar would have communicated the decision to Pant before it was made public, and that it was 'for the good of the team and good for Rishabh as well.'

White-Ball Struggles and the Path to Redemption

Pant's limited-overs form has been a separate concern, with Ishan Kishan now ahead of him as the second keeper in ODIs. Gandhi's prescription was straightforward: introspection, old videos, and a return to first principles. 'Playing in the V, playing close to the body — these are the basics. Sometimes in white ball you tend to throw your bat and mistakes creep in,' he said.

Gandhi also celebrated Pant's personality as an asset the game needs. 'After he gets a hundred, I like to see that somersault. We just want characters on the cricket field — we don't want robots. He brings that flair,' he said, before wishing Pant good health following the injury setback that cut short his England tour in 2024.

With two or three Tests scheduled before India's tour of New Zealand, Gandhi believes these matches will be pivotal in Pant's reassertion. 'He knows how to score runs — that is how he played 50 Test matches. I'm sure he'll come back stronger and harder,' he concluded.