Dynamic Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has etched his name deeper into the history books of red-ball cricket, rewriting records on a deeply symbolic anniversary. Marking exactly eight years since his debut in the traditional format, Pant unleashed his trademark aggressive strokeplay during the second innings of the ongoing Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle, surpassing legendary milestones with breathtaking speed.
The date 18 August holds profound personal significance for the explosive left-hander. It was precisely on this day back in 2018 that Pant earned his maiden Test cap against England at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, famously opening his account in international test cricket by depositing a delivery from Adil Rashid over the boundary ropes for a six. Fast forward eight years, and the journey has come full circle on the cricket field in Galle.
Resuming his innings with typical intent, Pant played a brisk knock of 66 runs before eventually being dismissed. En route to this fluent half-century, he struck two towering maximums. The second of these, dispatched off Sri Lankan paceman Lahiru Kumara during the 37th over, proved historic. It marked his one-hundredth career six in Test cricket—making him the first Indian to reach the milestone—while simultaneously securing the record for the fastest player to hit 100 Test sixes in cricket history.
Achieving the feat in his 51st Test match and 89th innings, Pant surpassed compatriot Virender Sehwag’s longstanding Indian record of 90 Test sixes some time ago. The primary question remaining among pundits and fans was simply how rapidly the youngster would conquer the three-figure mark for maximums. With this latest milestone secured, attention immediately pivots to England skipper Ben Stokes’s all-time career record for most sixes in Test history.
The exclusive club of cricketers who have struck at least one hundred sixes in Test matches remains remarkably small, featuring only four players worldwide. England captain Ben Stokes leads the all-time charts with 138 sixes accumulated across 220 innings, having reached his century of sixes in his 151st innings. New Zealand stalwart Brendon McCullum achieved the feat in his 170th innings. Meanwhile, legendary Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist previously held the benchmark for the fewest innings to reach the milestone, having notched his hundredth six in his 130th appearance at the crease.
By reaching the landmark in 89 innings, Pant shattered Gilchrist’s longstanding record with a remarkable margin of 41 fewer innings. Furthermore, he achieved the milestone 62 innings quicker than Stokes and 81 innings faster than McCullum, underscoring his unparalleled dominance against the red ball. Fittingly, the historic milestone arrived via his trademark stroke—shifting across his off-stump and launching the ball over deep fine leg—showcasing the fearless elegance that has come to define Rishabh Pant’s extraordinary career.