Sun Nov 03 16:06:28 UTC 2024: ## Pant Blasts Fastest Fifty for India Against New Zealand in Mumbai Test
**Mumbai, India:** Rishabh Pant smashed a blistering half-century off just 36 balls in the third Test match between India and New Zealand in Mumbai, setting a new record for the fastest fifty by an Indian batsman against the Kiwis. This feat surpassed the previous record held by Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had achieved the milestone in 41 balls during the Pune Test.
Pant, batting at number six, came in to rescue India’s innings after early wickets. He raced to his fifty with a flurry of boundaries, showcasing his aggressive style of batting. In the process, he also surpassed the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in terms of the fastest half-century against New Zealand. Pant finished his innings on 60 runs off 59 balls, hitting 8 fours and 2 sixes.
His knock, in partnership with Shubman Gill, who scored 90 runs off 144 balls, helped India recover from a shaky start. The duo stitched together a crucial 96-run stand, with Pant’s quickfire runs providing much-needed momentum.
India, at the time of writing, had reached 227/7 with Gill and Pant’s contributions proving crucial. The team will be looking to build on this platform and put up a challenging total in response to New Zealand’s first innings score of 235.
This stellar knock by Pant has once again highlighted his ability to turn the tide of the match with his explosive batting. With the series tied at 0-0, it is expected that Pant will continue to play a key role in the remaining matches.
First Piper 