Team India firmly seized control on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium, finishing at a strong 288 for the loss of two wickets at stumps. The highlight of the day was an elegant unbeaten century by Devdutt Padikkal, who reached 131 runs and remained at the crease alongside dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who was unbeaten on 27. Entering the attack during the final session of Day 1, Pant hit his first six of the innings, thereby creating a major piece of Test cricket history away from home.
Surpassing Adam Gilchrist to Write Test History Overseas
Cricket enthusiasts kept a keen eye on Rishabh Pant as he took the field in the opening Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka. During his measured knock of 27 runs, Pant struck three boundaries and a soaring six. That single clearance over the rope made him the leading wicketkeeper-batter in Test history for the most sixes hit in away matches, overtaking legendary Australian keeper-batter Adam Gilchrist. Pant accomplished this feat in his 34th away Test match while batting in his 60th innings, taking his away tally to 57 sixes. Gilchrist, who previously held the record with 56 sixes on foreign soil, now moves down to second place.
Leading Wicketkeepers with Most Sixes in Away Test Cricket
Aggressive batting by wicketkeepers on opposition grounds has long been a game-changer in Test cricket. Pant’s rapid rise to the top of this list underscores his remarkable impact in foreign conditions. The standings for wicketkeepers with the highest number of sixes in away Tests are as follows
- Rishabh Pant (India): 57 sixes in 60 innings across 34 away Test matches
- Adam Gilchrist (Australia): 56 sixes in away Test matches
- MS Dhoni (India): 37 sixes in away Test matches
- Quinton de Kock (South Africa): 18 sixes in away Test matches
- Rod Marsh (Australia): 16 sixes in away Test matches
Pant’s tally of 57 sixes puts him comfortably ahead of former Indian captain MS Dhoni, who hit 37 away Test sixes, as well as South African keeper Quinton de Kock with 18 sixes and Australian icon Rod Marsh with 16 sixes. Fans will be watching closely on Day 2 to see if Pant can convert his current 27-run stay into a massive score.
Chasing Ben Stokes for the Ultimate Away Test Sixes Record
Beyond the specialized category of wicketkeepers, Pant is also closing in on the all-time record for all batters in away Test history. Former England captain and star all-rounder Ben Stokes currently holds the world record, having smashed 69 sixes in 64 away Test matches across 122 innings. Rishabh Pant now occupies the number two position overall across all nations with his 57 sixes.
To bypass Stokes and take sole possession of the top spot in world cricket, Pant requires 13 more sixes in away Tests. Given Pant’s boundary-clearing frequency during overseas tours, he holds a prime opportunity to bridge this gap and become the ultimate number-one six-hitter in away Test cricket.
All-Time Leaderboard for Most Sixes Scored on Foreign Soil
The overall leaderboard for players with the most sixes hit away from home in Test cricket is as follows
- Ben Stokes (England): 69 sixes in 122 innings across 64 away Test matches
- Rishabh Pant (India): 57 sixes in 60 innings across 34 away Test matches
- Adam Gilchrist (Australia): 56 sixes in away Test matches
- Chris Gayle (West Indies): 51 sixes in away Test matches
- Jacques Kallis (South Africa): 45 sixes in away Test matches
By reaching 57 sixes, Pant has already surpassed power-hitters like West Indies opening batter Chris Gayle, who accumulated 51 sixes, and South African legendary all-rounder Jacques Kallis, who hit 45 sixes away from home. With the Sri Lanka series just underway, Pant has every chance to further expand his boundary tally on foreign soil.
