Rishabh Pant scripted another significant milestone in his Test career during the second Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo on August 24, 2026. The Indian wicketkeeper batter surpassed former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to become the country’s leading run scorer as a designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Test matches.
Pant entered the second day of the Test needing only a few runs to move beyond Dhoni’s previous mark of 2,496 runs in away Tests. He reached the milestone during his innings in Colombo and moved past the former captain’s record, establishing a new benchmark for Indian wicketkeeper batters in overseas and neutral conditions.
The achievement was particularly notable because Pant began the match with an injury concern. He had been struck on his left wrist by a delivery from Sri Lankan fast bowler Lahiru Kumara on the opening day and had to retire hurt after scoring three runs. Despite the setback, he returned to the crease on the second morning after being assessed by the Indian team management.
Pant showed his usual attacking style after returning to bat. He continued to take on the Sri Lankan bowlers and reached his half century during the session. His unbeaten 63 helped India maintain control after an early wicket on the second day. He also combined effectively with Dhruv Jurel, producing an important partnership that helped India rebuild its innings.
According to current statistical records, Pant moved beyond Dhoni’s 2,496 away Test runs and reached 2,534 runs in the latest count while continuing his innings. Dhoni accumulated his tally across 48 away Tests, whereas Pant reached the new record in fewer matches. The achievement highlights Pant’s productivity outside India and his ability to make a significant contribution under challenging conditions.
Pant’s record also places him among the leading wicketkeeper batters in world cricket in away Tests. Players ahead of him in the broader international list include Pakistan’s Sarfaraz Ahmed and Australia’s Adam Gilchrist. Pant’s overseas average and number of major scores have helped establish him as one of the most productive wicketkeeper batters of his generation.
The record is another landmark in a Test career that has already included several major achievements. Earlier in the series, Pant became the first Indian player to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket. He reached that milestone during the first Test in Galle, underlining the aggressive batting approach that has become a defining feature of his career.
Pant’s performance in Colombo also came at an important stage of India’s innings. India had resumed the second day at 300 for five after Devdutt Padikkal scored a century on the opening day. Sri Lanka quickly claimed another wicket, but Pant and Jurel steadied the innings and built a partnership that pushed India towards a stronger first innings total.
Pant’s 63 not out came from 88 deliveries and included several attacking strokes. Jurel also reached a half century, with the pair adding an unbeaten 112 run partnership for the seventh wicket during the second morning session. Their stand helped India recover from the early loss and place pressure back on the Sri Lankan bowling attack.
The record is significant not only because Pant has overtaken Dhoni, but also because of the circumstances in which the milestone was achieved. Pant had returned from an injury scare, faced a disciplined pace attack and still managed to produce an important innings on a Test surface outside India.
Dhoni remains one of the most successful wicketkeeper batters in Indian cricket history. His performances overseas formed an important part of his career, and his record of 2,496 away Test runs stood for years. Pant’s rise past that mark adds another chapter to the comparison between two of India’s most prominent wicketkeeper batters.
For Pant, the milestone further strengthens his position as an important part of India’s Test setup. His ability to contribute with the bat while also carrying the responsibilities of a wicketkeeper makes him a valuable player, particularly in overseas Test cricket where runs from the lower middle order can have a major influence on match results.
Pant is also approaching another important personal milestone in the World Test Championship. Before the Colombo innings, he was India’s leading run scorer in WTC history with 2,948 runs. He needed 52 more runs to become the first Indian batter to reach 3,000 WTC runs, although the final achievement depends on his eventual score in the match.
The Colombo Test is therefore proving to be an important match for Pant on both personal and team levels. His new overseas wicketkeeper batting record, his recovery from the wrist injury and his contribution alongside Jurel have all made him one of the central figures in the match.
As the Test continues, attention will remain on Pant’s fitness and his ability to convert his start into a larger score. Regardless of what follows in the match, surpassing Dhoni’s away Test record represents another major achievement in his growing Test career.