Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant on Thursday notched the 4th Test century of his career during the series-deciding third encounter against South Africa in Cape Town to keep India‘s hopes alive and help set the hosts a target of 212 runs

Pant took the initiative from the moment he stepped onto the pitch, taking the fight to South Africa in typical style. The 24-year-old brought up fifty runs in just 61 deliveries and completed his century in 133 deliveries. 

On a day when the other batters were struggling, with only skipper Virat Kohli (29) and KL Rahul (10) reaching double figures, Pant stood out with his aggression and grit.  

With his defiant innings, Pant surpassed former skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to become the first Asian wicketkeeper-batsman to score a Test ton in South Africa. 

Dhoni previously held the record of the highest score by an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman in South Africa, scoring 90 at Centurion during the 2010/11 tour. Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara scored 89 in 2002/03, while Bangladesh’s Liton Das scored 70 at Bloemfontein in 2017/18. 

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Three of Pant’s four Test centuries have come outside India – 118 vs England at The Oval in 2018, 159* vs Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2021 and 100* vs South Africa at the Newlands Cricket Ground. 

Pant came out to bat with India reeling from the losses of senior batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane within the first two overs of the day. Pujara was removed thanks to a stunning, one-handed catch by Keegan Petersen off Marco Jansen’s bowling, with Kagiso Rabada striking in the very next over to pile on Rahane’s woes.

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Along with Kohli, Pant stitched a 94-run partnership for the fifth wicket – the second highest for the fifth wicket for India in South Africa after Sahin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag added 220 runs at Bloemfontien in the 2001/02 series. 

After a gritty knock, which saw him score just 29 runs off 143 deliveries, Kohli was dismissed by Lungi Ngidi. Pant was the lone warrior as he continued his aggressive style of play but ran out of partners at the other end.