Rishabh Pant: Career Highlights, IPL 2024, Centuries, and Comeback Journey

Rishabh Pant: The Rising Star of Indian Cricket

Rishabh Pant. Say the name, and bowlers start sweating. This kid from Roorkee isn’t just another cricketer—he’s a force of nature. At 26, he’s already left his mark on the game in ways most players only dream of. Smashing centuries in Test cricket? Check. Pulling off ridiculous stunts behind the stumps? Double check. Pant doesn’t just play cricket; he owns it.

Born on October 4, 1997 (that’s the Rishabh Pant date of birth, by the way), Pant’s a Libra. Balanced, they say. Don’t believe it for a second. On the field, he’s chaos wrapped in talent. Aggressive, fearless, and with a knack for flipping games on their head, Pant’s the kind of player who makes you forget about the scoreboard and just watch. His batting? Explosive. His wicketkeeping? Lightning-fast. He’s the full package, no question. 

Then there’s the IPL. The Rishabh Pant IPL 2024 season is already the talk of the town. Can he take Delhi Capitals to the top? And if you’re into sports betting, you’d be daft not to keep an eye on him. He’s the kind of player who can make or break your bets with a single innings. 

Early Life and Background

Rishabh Pant didn’t grow up with a golden ticket. No privileged upbringing, no easy roads. He was born in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, to a middle-class family. His father, Rajendra Pant, ran a small business, his mother, Saroj Pant, managed the home. Life wasn’t a struggle for survival, but luxuries? Forget about it. What they did have was belief—his parents knew their boy had something special.

At 12, he left home for Delhi. No parade, no guarantees. Just a kid, a kit bag, and a stubborn dream. He landed at Sonnet Cricket Club, where coach Tarak Sinha shaped him. Sinha wasn’t one for pampering—either you had it, or you didn’t. Pant had it. Hard graft, relentless training, and a willingness to take risks. He wasn’t just another hopeful—he was different.

By 2016, he wasn’t knocking on doors anymore—he was kicking them open. Ranji Trophy? He tore through it. Bowlers couldn’t figure him out, selectors couldn’t ignore him. A year later, Delhi Daredevils threw him into the IPL. That was all he needed. No second chances, no ‘what ifs.’ Just a fearless lad making the game his own.

Career Highlights

Rishabh Pant doesn’t do ordinary. His career so far? A highlight reel that never stops.

His Test debut came in 2018 against England, and within no time, people were throwing around big comparisons. But Pant wasn’t interested in talk—he was busy making statements. The 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy? That’s when he showed the world what he was about. Sydney. A hostile Aussie attack. And Pant? He walks in and belts an unbeaten 159. No fear, no overthinking—just clean, ruthless hitting. India walked away with a historic series win.

That knock alone would be enough for most, but Pant doesn’t settle. His 146 at Edgbaston in 2018? Pure counterattack. England thought they had India on the ropes—Pant flipped the script. His ODI hundred against the West Indies in 2022 (125 in Port of Spain) was another reminder: give him an inch, and he’ll take the game away. And then there’s his T20I hundred against South Africa in Johannesburg—100* off 48 balls. Destruction.

Pant’s centuries across formats:

His total number of centuries? Not through the roof yet. But each one? A game-changer. Some players put up numbers—Pant puts up moments.

IPL Journey

Rishabh Pant and the IPL—it’s a perfect match. Since stepping into the league in 2017, he’s been the engine of Delhi Capitals (once called Delhi Daredevils). You talk about impact players? Pant’s right at the top of that list. Explosive with the bat, sharp behind the stumps, fearless as a leader. The 2024 season? It’s bigger than cricket. After a brutal car crash in December 2022, his return isn’t just about runs—it’s about proving, once again, that he’s built different. Delhi fans are desperate for their first IPL title, and if there’s one man who can drag them over the line, it’s him.

His IPL moments? Stacked. That unbeaten 128 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018? Utter destruction. The kind of innings that leaves bowlers staring at the pitch, wondering what just happened. Or his 85* against RCB in 2021—when the game was slipping, and he dragged Delhi back into it, refusing to give in. These weren’t just knocks. They were statements.

Pant’s IPL by the numbers:

• Highest Score: 128* vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (2018)

• Total Runs: Over 2,800 in 98 matches (as of 2023)

• Strike Rate: 147+ (borderline ridiculous)

• Dismissals as Wicketkeeper: Over 60

Numbers tell a story, but they don’t capture everything. Pant isn’t just a run-machine; he’s changed how wicketkeeper-batsmen approach T20 cricket. He can anchor an innings or rip apart attacks in the death overs—whatever the team needs. Reverse sweeps off fast bowlers? Done. One-handed sixes into the stands? Routine. He plays with swagger, with fire, and with the kind of unpredictability that makes him every bowler’s worst nightmare.

Playing Style and Strengths

Rishabh Pant doesn’t play cricket—he takes it apart. His batting? Call it aggressive, fearless, reckless—whatever you like. The bottom line is, bowlers hate bowling to him. He doesn’t care about reputations. He doesn’t care about conditions. Give him an inch, and he’ll put you in the stands. In Test cricket, he’s been compared to Adam Gilchrist, but Pant isn’t a copy of anyone. He plays his own game—one that mixes raw power with a surprising touch of finesse. He can bludgeon a 90 mph delivery into the second tier, then follow it up with a delicate late cut as if he’s been doing it all his life.

And then there’s his wicketkeeping. People doubted him at first—too flashy, too raw. But he shut them up. His hands are quick, his reactions sharper than most, and he sees things before they happen. Look at his stumping of James Anderson in 2021—blink, and you missed it. One moment Anderson’s foot was slightly in the air, the next, Pant had whipped the bails off like it was nothing. That’s the kind of keeper he is—always switched on, always a step ahead.

But if there’s one thing that truly defines him, it’s his mentality. Some players shrink when the pressure’s on—Pant grows. You need proof? Gabba, 2021. A series on the line, 328 to chase on the final day, the Aussies throwing everything at him. Lesser players would have played for a draw. Pant? He played to win. That unbeaten 89 wasn’t just an innings—it was a statement. He walked into their fortress, took the fight to them, and walked out with one of the greatest wins in Indian cricket history. That’s Rishabh Pant.

Challenges and Comebacks

Rishabh Pant’s career hasn’t been a smooth ride—it’s been a scrap, a fight, a constant battle to prove himself. And nothing tested him more than what happened in December 2022. A horrific car crash, multiple injuries, months of uncertainty. At one point, the question wasn’t about cricket—it was about whether he’d even walk the same way again. But if there’s one thing about Pant, he doesn’t do quitting.

Rehab was brutal. Days filled with pain, frustration, slow progress. No shortcuts, no easy roads back. But step by step, he clawed his way back. 2024? That wasn’t just a return to cricket—it was a statement. First in the IPL, then in international cricket, he showed why he’s built different.

And let’s be clear—this isn’t the first time he’s had to bounce back. Early in his career, people ripped him apart for reckless shot selection, for inconsistency, for not being “the finished product.” He heard it all. He took it all in. And then he answered the only way he knows how—on the pitch.

Pant’s biggest comebacks:

• 2018 England Tour: A rough start, critics piling on, then a century at The Oval to shut everyone up.

• 2021 Australia Tour: Struggled early, then walked into Gabba and played one of the greatest fourth-innings knocks in history.

• 2022 IPL: A dip in form, questions over his leadership—he answered with runs and took Delhi Capitals to the brink of the playoffs.

• 2024 Comeback: Nearly lost everything, came back swinging. No fear, no doubts, just Rishabh Pant doing what he does best.

Pant’s career is proof—setbacks don’t break him, they fuel him. Injuries, criticism, form slumps—throw anything at him, and he’ll come back stronger. That’s who he is. That’s why he’s different.

What They Say About Pant

Talk to anyone who knows cricket, and they’ll tell you—Rishabh Pant isn’t just another player, he’s a difference-maker. Sourav Ganguly, a man who built his career on fearless cricket, put it straight: “Rishabh Pant is a once-in-a-generation player.” Big words, but completely justified. There aren’t many cricketers who can turn a game on its head in the space of a few overs. Pant does it like it’s second nature.

Virat Kohli, who’s watched Pant grow from an unpredictable rookie into a proper match-winner, didn’t mince his words either. “Game-changer.” That’s what he called him. And Kohli doesn’t throw praise around for fun. Ravi Shastri? He knew it before most. That famous Gabba Test, tension through the roof, India chasing history—Pant smashing the winning runs. Shastri’s words summed it up perfectly: “This boy is special. He’s got the X-factor.”

And Pant himself? He doesn’t do long speeches, doesn’t care much for overanalyzing. His philosophy is simple: “Play fearless cricket, and the rest will take care of itself.” No overthinking, no hesitation—just pure, instinctive, high-stakes cricket. That’s what makes him different. That’s why the biggest names in the game back him.

Pant’s brilliance

Let’s break it down with some hard facts.

Top 5 Innings of Rishabh Pant’s Career

1. *159 vs Australia, Sydney, 2019 (Test)**: A masterclass in patience and aggression.

2. *89 vs Australia, Brisbane, 2021 (Test)**: The innings that sealed India’s historic series win.

3. 146 vs England, Edgbaston, 2018 (Test): Announced his arrival on the world stage.

4. 125 vs West Indies, Port of Spain, 2022 (ODI): Proved he’s not just a Test specialist.

5. *100 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2022 (T20I)**: A T20 century that left everyone speechless.

Awards and Achievements

• ICC Men’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year (2018): Recognized as the best young talent in the world.

• Arjuna Award (2021): India’s second-highest sporting honor.

• Fastest century by an Indian wicketkeeper in Tests: Reached the milestone in just 89 balls.

• Key player in India’s historic Test series win in Australia (2020-21): Played a pivotal role in both Sydney and Brisbane.

The Rishabh Pant Effect

Rishabh Pant isn’t just another name on a team sheet—he’s a force of nature. From the streets of Roorkee to lighting up the biggest stages in world cricket, his journey has been built on talent, graft, and an almost reckless belief in himself. Some players play the game; Pant shakes it up.

His impact? Undeniable. He doesn’t play safe, doesn’t do dull cricket. Whether it’s smashing bowlers into the stands, pulling off lightning-fast stumpings, or standing tall when the pressure is unbearable—he’s redefined what a modern cricketer looks like. He’s unpredictable, fearless, and utterly box-office.

And now, with the 2024 IPL season ahead, you get the feeling there’s another chapter waiting to be written. More centuries? More last-over heroics? More records? Who knows. But here’s the one certainty—when Rishabh Pant is on the field, you watch. Because anything can happen.

As he says himself: “Play fearless, and the rest will follow.” That’s not just a slogan. That’s the way he lives.