Aggressive batting has always been seen in Indian cricketers, and many of them have pulled off incredible records in Test cricket. Some of the brilliant achievements include scoring quick fifties when the run rate needed to be accelerated.
Here are the top 5 fastest fifties by Indian batsmen in Test cricket:
Rishabh Pant – 28 Balls
The fastest fifty made by an Indian batsman is at the top, which was done by Rishabh Pant in 28 balls. In March 2022, Pant achieved the record when India was playing against Sri Lanka in the Test match at Bengaluru. He himself is generally known for his fearless batting. In that game, when India needed to increase its run rate, Pant himself scored a quickfire 50 off only 31 balls. His explosive innings brought India to the declaration at 303/9. India would go on and win the game by a good margin of 238 runs.
Rishabh Pant – 29 Balls
Another fastest fifty record goes to Rishabh Pant. This feat was achieved against Australia at SCG in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He took just 29 balls to accomplish it.
Kapil Dev – 30 Balls
Kapil Dev comes second in the list. He was that legendary cricketer who scored a fifty off 30 balls against Pakistan in Karachi in December 1982. Batting down the order, Dev’s 50 came at a time when India was reeling. He made 73 off just 53 balls but could not lead his team to a win, as they lost the match by an innings and 86 runs. But still, the fact that Dev can strike quickly under pressure is an achievement in itself.
Yashasvi Jaiswal – 31 Balls
The third on the list is Yashasvi Jaiswal who scored a 31-ball fifty when India needed some quick runs. The match was rain-affected, and he batted pretty well, hitting 72 off 51 balls, with 12 boundaries and two sixes, and as a result, enabled the team to reach team totals of 50, 100, 150, and 200 in an exceptional way. It is his quick knock that played a crucial role for the team’s quick scoring.
Shardul Thakur – 31 Balls
Shardul Thakur follows up Jaiswal with another fifty of 31 balls during the India vs England match at The Oval in 2021. Thakur’s aggressive batting helped India to settle for a difficult target of 191 in the first innings, wherein he had made 57 off 36 balls, and another rapid half-century in the second innings. In both innings, Thakur was a key player in India’s 157-run victory.
Virender Sehwag – 32 balls
Virender Sehwag One of the most aggressive openers cricket has ever seen, Sehwag gets in with his rapid 50 off just 32 balls against England in Chennai in 2008. “Helped India in one of their biggest Test victories-that was needed with chasing an unprecedented target of 387/4. He would go on to score 83 from 68 balls setting it up for India’s historic win,”.
