Test cricket is not so much associated with quickfire knocks. Fast centuries or half-centuries are not that possible due to the difficulty of batting with the quality of wickets in Test cricket and also against the bowlers of the highest quality. However, over the years, some Indian batters have played quickfire knocks, which have taken them to half-centuries in a quick time.
In this article, let us take a look at the top five quickest half-centuries by Indian batters in Test cricket:
5. Yashasvi Jaiswal: 31 Balls vs Bangladesh, 2024
Yashasvi Jaiswal scored a half-century in 31 balls against Bangladesh in the second Test of the series in Kanpur in 2024. India were looking to press on the accelerator and score quick runs to force a result in the game due to the WTC points on stake. The Indian opener played some audacious shots against the Bangladeshi bowlers to set the tone.
4. Shardul Thakur: 31 Balls vs England, 2021
Shardul Thakur scored fifty in just 31 balls in the fourth Test match of the series at the Oval in 2021 against England. The Indian all-rounder came up clutch with the bat, and his innings also helped India win that Test match to take a 2-1 lead in the series. He faced bowlers like Stuart Broad, James Anderson, and Ollie Robinson and showed his wide array of shots.
3. Kapil Dev: 30 Balls vs Pakistan, 1982
Kapil Dev scored a half-century in just 30 balls against Pakistan in the second Test match of the series in Karachi. He finally scored 73 runs off 53 deliveries with 12 fours and one six. He took apart one of the most dreaded bowling attacks, but Pakistan went on to win that game.
2. Rishabh Pant: 29 Balls vs Australia, 2025
The Indian wicketkeeper-batter, Rishabh Pant, brought up his half-century in just 29 balls in the ongoing fifth Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. On a lively pitch against the likes of Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Pat Cummins, he counter-attacked to play a decisive innings for the team.
1. Rishabh Pant: 28 Balls vs Sri Lanka, 2022
Rishabh Pant is also number one on the list, and he has smashed the fastest half-century by an Indian batter in Test cricket. He scored his fifty in just 22 balls against Sri Lanka in 2022. He took on a bowling attack with Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrama on a turning track and took the game away from them.
