Rishabh Pant Creates History, Becomes Fastest Batter To Reach 100 Sixes In Tests

Rishabh Pant created history on Tuesday by becoming the first Indian batter and only the fourth player overall to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket. The wicketkeeper-batter reached the landmark during the fourth day of India's opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, adding another significant record to his already remarkable Test career. Pant also became the fastest batter in Test history to reach 100 sixes, achieving the feat in his 51st Test. The previous record belonged to former England captain Ben Stokes, who needed 82 Tests to reach the milestone.

Pant's achievement is particularly notable given his aggressive approach in the longest format, where his ability to attack bowlers has often changed the momentum of matches. The Indian batter entered the Galle Test with 97 Test sixes and needed only three more to join the exclusive 100-six club. He first equalled West Indies great Chris Gayle's tally of 98 sixes before completing the landmark. Pant's milestone also moved him beyond several prominent Indian six-hitters, with Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma currently having 91 sixes each in Test cricket.

Pant is now fourth on the all-time Test sixes list. Stokes leads the tally with 138 sixes, followed by New Zealand's Brendon McCullum with 107 and Australia's Adam Gilchrist with 100. Pant's entry into the list places him alongside some of the most destructive batters in Test history and underlines the impact his attacking style has had since making his debut. The record came during a productive second innings for Pant, who continued India's aggressive approach after the team had established a substantial first-innings advantage.

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India had posted 462 in their first innings, with Devdutt Padikkal scoring 131, while Sri Lanka were bowled out for 284. Pant had earlier contributed 39 in India's first innings before producing another attacking performance in the second. Pant's landmark also carries significance because he has combined wicketkeeping responsibilities with an unusually aggressive batting style in Test cricket. His willingness to play attacking shots, even in traditional red-ball conditions, has made him one of India's most distinctive modern Test batters. Reaching 100 sixes in just 51 matches further illustrates how frequently he has used that approach.

The achievement comes as India look to close out the opening Test strongly in Galle. By the third day, India had already secured a 178-run first-innings lead, and the team continued to build its advantage on the fourth day. Pant's contribution added another highlight to an innings in which India sought to put Sri Lanka under sustained pressure. With 100 Test sixes now to his name, Pant has established a record that sets him apart from every other Indian batter in the format. He is also within striking distance of McCullum's 107 and has a considerable gap to Stokes' record 138. For now, however, his achievement in becoming the first Indian and fastest batter to reach three figures stands as another milestone in a Test career defined by aggressive and unconventional batting.

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