Team India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has a big chance to create history in the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka . Although Pant lost the vice-captain’s role before the one-off Test against Afghanistan earlier this year, he remains India’s first-choice wicketkeeper in the longest format.
The left-hander is now just three sixes away from becoming the first Indian batter to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket.
Who is chasing a historic Test record?
Rishabh Pant is on the verge of creating a special record in Test cricket. The 28-year-old has hit 97 sixes in 50 Tests and needs just three more sixes to become the first Indian player to reach the 100-sixes mark in the format.
Rishabh Pant chasing historic test record in Sri Lanka
Pant has scored 3,557 runs in Test cricket at an average of 43.37, including eight centuries and 19 fifties.
What record can Pant achieve?
If Pant hits three sixes during the Sri Lanka series, he will become the first Indian and only the fourth player in the world to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket. He is already India’s leading six-hitter in Tests, ahead of former opener Virender Sehwag, who finished his career with 90 sixes in 103 matches.
Who are the other players with 100 Test sixes?
Only three players have reached the 100-sixes mark in Test cricket so far.
- Ben Stokes – 138 sixes in 122 Tests
- Brendon McCullum – 107 sixes in 101 Tests
- Adam Gilchrist – 100 sixes in 96 Tests
Pant can now join this elite list if he clears the milestone in Sri Lanka.
Which other Indian players are close to milestones?
Ravindra Jadeja is another Indian who is climbing the list. The all-rounder has hit 82 sixes in 89 Tests and has scored 4,095 runs. He is currently fourth on India’s all-time list of Test six-hitters. Former India captain Rohit Sharma retired with 88 sixes in 67 Tests, making him the second-highest Indian on the list.
| Rank | Player | Matches | Runs | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rishabh Pant | 50 | 3,557 | 97 |
| 2 | Virender Sehwag | 103 | 8,503 | 90 |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma | 67 | 4,301 | 88 |
| 4 | Ravindra Jadeja | 89 | 4,095 | 82 |
| 5 | MS Dhoni | 90 | 4,876 | 78 |
| 6 | Sachin Tendulkar | 200 | 15,921 | 69 |
| 7 | Kapil Dev | 131 | 5,248 | 61 |
| 8 | Sourav Ganguly | 113 | 7,212 | 57 |
| 9 | Shubman Gill | 41 | 2,969 | 47 |
| 10 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | 29 | 2,535 | 45 |
Current India captain Shubman Gill is also close to a milestone. He has hit 47 sixes in 41 Tests and needs only three more to complete 50 Test sixes.
Rishabh Pant during IND vs SLXI 3 day warm up match
Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is another player to watch. He has smashed 45 sixes in just 29 Tests and needs five more to reach the 50-sixes mark.
When will India play the Sri Lanka Test series?
India will begin the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka on August 15 at Galle. The second Test will be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), Colombo, starting on August 23.
The series gives Pant, Gill, and Jaiswal a great chance to achieve important personal milestones while helping India begin the series on a winning note.