Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has etched his name in the record books by achieving a historic milestone in Test cricket. During the 37th over of the innings, Pant hit the fourth delivery from bowler Lahiru Kumara into the stands to bring up his 20th Test half-century. With this monumental shot, he completed a century of sixes in the longest format of the game, becoming the first Indian and only the fourth batter in the world to reach this elite milestone.
Fastest to 100 Test Sixes by Balls Faced
Pant reached the landmark of 100 Test sixes by facing just 4918 balls, making it the fewest deliveries taken by any batter in Test history to achieve this feat. In doing so, he surpassed legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist. Gilchrist had consumed 6578 deliveries to complete his 100 Test sixes, meaning Pant achieved the milestone significantly faster than the Australian great.
First Asian and Fourth Global Batter to Reach the Feat
With this achievement, Pant joins an exclusive club as only the fourth batter in the world to hit 100 or more sixes in Test cricket. Ahead of him on the all-time list are England's Ben Stokes with 138 sixes and New Zealand's Brendon McCullum with 107 sixes, while Pant is now tied with Adam Gilchrist at 100 sixes. Furthermore, the Indian dasher has become the first batter from the entire Asian continent to cross the 100-six mark in Test matches, a feat untouched by numerous legends from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh over the decades.
A Striking Knock and Recent Test Form
During his record-breaking innings, Pant played in his trademark aggressive style rather than just anchoring for numbers. He scored 66 runs off just 69 balls, striking at over 95 while hitting 8 boundaries and 2 sixes. Although he fell 34 runs short of converting the knock into a century, his intent was clear. Since scoring back-to-back hundreds against England in Leeds last year, a Test century has eluded him, but this innings showcased his enduring aggressive approach.
Dominance in the World Test Championship
Pant's six-hitting prowess extends well beyond standard Tests into the World Test Championship. After hitting two maximums in the Galle Test, his tally of sixes in the WTC has risen to 80. This makes him only the second batter in WTC history to hit 80 or more sixes. He currently trails only England's Ben Stokes, who hit 88 sixes before his retirement, leaving a gap of just eight maximums between the two.
Leading the Indian Chart in WTC Sixes
With 80 sixes in the championship, Pant comfortably sits at the top among all Indian batters in the WTC. Following him are Rohit Sharma with 56 sixes, Shubman Gill with 46 sixes, and Yashasvi Jaiswal with 45 sixes. Rishabh Pant's batting identity remains rooted in his fearless attitude. While many international batters choose caution during tough phases, Pant embraces high-risk, aggressive strokes to put bowlers on the back foot, cementing his place in record books.
