New Delhi: Rishabh Pant etched his name in history on Saturday, November 15, as he broke Virender Sehwag’s record for most sixes for India in Test cricket. Pant achieved the elusive milestone en route to his 27-run knock in India’s first innings on Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Pant was only one big hit away from surpassing Sehwag heading into the first Test against the Proteas in Kolkata. He achieved the feat with a six against Keshav Maharaj on the 4th delivery of the 38th over in India’s first innings. With the maximum, Pant completed 91 sixes in Test cricket as he broke Sehwag’s long-standing record. He smashed two sixes in his 27-run knock against the Proteas to take his overall tally to 92.
Sehwag, one of the most explosive openers in Test history, smashed 90 sixes for India in the whites. The former India opener scored 8,586 runs in 104 Tests for India. Pant has managed to go past him in just 42 Test matches. The swashbuckling left-hander, who is known for his aggressive approach in the whites, has 3454 runs for India in 48 Tests, with 92 sixes to his name.
Most sixes for India in Tests:
91 – Rishabh Pant
90 – Virender Sehwag
88 – Rohit Sharma
80 – Ravindra Jadeja
78 – MS Dhoni
Pant is seventh on the list of batters with the most sixes in Test cricket. The elite list is led by England captain Ben Stokes, who has smashed 136 sixes in 115 matches, followed by former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, who hammered 107 sixes in his Test career.