Top 5 fastest fifty by Team India players in Test

Test Cricket is known as a format where a batter’s patience gets tested depending on different conditions. Most of the successful players of this format are known for their grittiness and the ability to defend balls on a regular basis. But, over the years, the game has changed and players have come up with different mindsets.

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India are currently busy playing the Test series in West Indies. In the ongoing second Test, Ishan Kishan made the headlines by smashing a fifty off just 33 balls. Seeing such a blistering knock in a format like this, fans went crazy. But, there were several instances where Team India players were seen notching up quick fifties in the red-ball format.     

Here are the top five fastest fifty by Team India players in the history of the Test format:

Ishan Kishan vs West Indies (33 balls), 2023

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Ishan Kishan vs WI, 2023 (Image Source: Twitter)

This knock came against West Indies during the second Test at the Port of Spain in the second innings. Ishan Kishan reached the 50-run mark off just 33 balls and he finished the innings with a score of 52* runs off 34 balls, including four fours and two sixes. Speaking of the match, India batted first and scored 438 runs. 

In reply, the Windies got bundled out for 255 runs in their first innings and thus, India gained a lead of 183 runs. So, in the second innings, when the second wicket fell, Ishan came out to bat instead of Virat Kohli. However, he grabbed the opportunity with both hands as he hit his maiden Test fifty. India also set a target of 365 runs for the home side.  

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Virender Sehwag vs England (32 balls), 2008

Virender Sehwag vs Eng, 2008 (Image Source: Twitter)

This knock came against England in Chennai in 2008 during the first Test match. Virender Sehwag smashed a fifty off just 32 balls. Speaking of the match, England batted first and scored 316 runs. In reply, India got bundled out for 241 runs. Then, the visitors declared their first innings after scoring 311 runs for nine wickets.

Thus, India got a target of 387 runs. Both Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir gave a blistering start to the innings as they put up a 117-run opening stand in 23 overs. Sehwag scored 83 runs off 68 balls, including 11 fours and four sixes. Finally, the Men in Blue managed to chase down the target with six wickets in hand. Virender Sehwag also won the Player of the Match award.   

Shardul Thakur vs England (31 balls), 2021

Shardul Thakur vs Eng, 2021 (Image Source: Twitter)

This star all-rounder of Team India surprised everyone with his big-hitting skills when he smashed a fifty off just 31 balls at the Oval against England in 2021. Shardul Thakur scored 57 runs off 36 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. His innings was instrumental as they reached the 191-run mark in their first innings.

Then, England got bundled out for 290 runs while India managed to score 466 runs and set a 368-run target. England got bundled out for just 210 runs and India won that match by 157 runs. Shardul also took three wickets with the ball. Rohit Sharma was adjusted the Player of the Match for scoring 127 runs in the second innings.    

Kapil Dev vs Pakistan (30 balls), 1982

Kapil Dev vs Pak, 1982 (Image Source: Twitter)

This veteran all-rounder is the second-fastest player in terms of scoring a fifty in the red ball format. Kapil Dev smashed a fifty off just 30 balls against the arch-rivals, Pakistan in 1982 in the second Test in Karachi. The knock came in the first innings as he scored 73 runs off 53 balls, including 12 fours and one six.

However, India got bundled out for just 169 runs in their first innings. In reply, the Men in Green scored 452 runs in their first innings. While trailing by 283 runs, the Men in Blue got bundled out for 197 runs in their second innings. Thus, Pakistan won the game by an innings and 86 runs. Imran Khan was the Player of the Match for his all-round performance.    

Rishabh Pant vs Sri Lanka (28 balls), 2022 

Rishabh Pant vs SL, 2022 (Image Source: Twitter)

Rishabh Pant tops the chart as he is the fastest player to hit a fifty in the history of Indian cricket in the longest format of the game. Pant smashed a fifty off just 28 balls against Sri Lanka in 2022 in the second Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. The knock came in the second innings as he scored 50 runs off 31 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. 

After reaching the 50-run mark off just 28 balls, he failed to add any runs to his tally in the next three balls. Speaking of the match, India won the game by a huge margin of 238 runs. With that win, they also won the two-match Test series 2-0 while Pant was adjusted the Player of the Series for scoring 185 runs.