Rishabh Pant hits 100 Test sixes, setting new world record

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has set a new milestone in Test cricket during the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. Pant became the first Indian player to hit 100 sixes in the format and the fastest player globally to reach the landmark, achieving the feat in just 51 matches (4,918 balls). He joins an elite group of batters including Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, and Adam Gilchrist who have also reached 100 Test sixes.

During the match, Pant’s performance was a mix of record-breaking brilliance and tactical debate. In the first innings, he scored 39 runs off 62 balls, including one six that moved him past Adam Gilchrist for the most sixes hit on foreign soil. However, his dismissal while attempting an aggressive shot against Keshara Nuwantha drew criticism from former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif, who questioned Pant’s “common sense” and shot selection during the period when the new ball was introduced.

Pant redeemed himself in the second innings, scoring a rapid 66 runs off 69 balls, which included his 100th Test six. This knock helped stabilize India’s position and drew praise from fans for his ability to change the momentum of the game despite previous criticisms of his aggressive approach.