Ranji Trophy: Rishabh Pant breaks record for fastest ton in Indian first-class cricket history

Mahendra Singh Dhoni better watch out because Indian cricket has found another marauding wicketkeeper-batsman, and his name is Rishabh Pant. The 19-year-old broke the record for the fastest ever century in Ranji Trophy on Tuesday during Delhi's match against Jharkhand at the St Xavier's KCA Cricket Ground, Trivandrum.

The Delhi batsman's ton came in a mere 48 balls as he restored some pride for his side after being asked to follow-on by their opponents. Pant's stunning knock of 135 from 67 balls was studded with eight boundaries and a staggering 13 sixes. This innings is not just the fastest century in the Ranji Trophy, it is also the fastest in the history of first-class cricket in India.

This was Pant's second century of the match after his 117 off 106 balls in the first innings. The ton in the first innings is also the fourth fastest in Ranji Trophy history.

Earlier in the match, Ishan Kishan, Pant's captain during the previous Under-19 World Cup where he was himself the vice-captain, scored a mammoth 273 in Jharkhand's first innings to put them in a commanding position in the match. The diminutive Delhi batsman's effort, though, has given Unmukt Chand's boys an outside chance of victory on the fourth day.

Pant's feat on Tuesday shattered the previous record set by Naman Ojha when he had scored a century in 69 balls against Karnataka in 2015. The teenager has been in sensational form for Delhi this season, amassing four centuries in the five matches he's played, which includes a triple-century against Maharashtra in Mumbai.