Top 5 fastest fifties by Indian batters in Test cricket
India's batting sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal set a new record by becoming the fastest Indian opener to score a half-century in Test cricket. He achieved this feat on Day 4 of the second Test against Bangladesh at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. The 22-year-old reached his 50 off just 31 balls. Here we look at Indians with the fastest fifties in Test cricket.
Virender Sehwag - 32 balls
Virender Sehwag, famous for his quick scoring in Test cricket, is at number five on this list. He smashed a rapid 50 off just 32 balls against England in Chennai back in 2008. This innings was crucial in India's highest successful chase in Test cricket, where they chased down 387/4. Sehwag's final score was a solid 83 off 68 balls, paving the way for India's win.
Shardul Thakur - 31 balls
Shardul Thakur, who has made some big waves in Test cricket, grabs the fourth spot with a 31-ball 50 against England at The Oval in 2021. He smashed two half-centuries in that match, with his first innings giving him 57 runs off just 36 balls. This helped India set a total of 191. Thakur's second innings saw him score another quick half-century, playing a key role in India's 157-run win.
Yashasvi Jaiswal - 31 balls
Jaiswal's aformentioned knock is next on the list as like Thakur, he also recorded a 31-ball fifty. In a rain-affected match where India needed fast runs, Jaiswal delivered by scoring 72 off just 51 balls. His innings included 12 boundaries and two sixes, helping India reach team totals of 50, 100, 150 and 200 at record speed.
Kapil Dev - 30 balls
Legendary cricketer Kapil Dev is second on this list for his 30-ball 50 against Pakistan in Karachi in December 1982. Batting lower down the order, Dev scored a crucial 73 off just 53 balls when India was struggling. Despite his valiant effort and taking five wickets in the match, India lost by an innings and 86 runs.
Rishabh Pant - 28 balls
Rishabh Pant is at the top of the list, which he achieved in just 28 balls. He set this record against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru in March 2022. Known for his fearless batting style, Pant scored a quickfire 50 off just 31 balls when India needed to accelerate their run rate. His innings helped India declare at 303/9 and eventually win the match by a massive margin of 238 runs.
