Rishabh Pant has always played Test cricket in an attacking way. Sometimes it looks risky, but it can also be special. On August 18 in Galle, Pant created another big record.

Pant hit Sri Lanka’s Lahiru Kumara over fine leg for a six. With that shot, he became the first Indian batter to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket.

He also reached the mark faster than any other batter.

Pant needed only 51 Tests, 89 innings and 4,934 balls to hit 100 sixes. He became only the fourth batter in Test history to reach the mark after Adam Gilchrist, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes.

Pant now joins some of the most attacking batters in Test cricket. However, he reached 100 sixes much faster than all of them.

The numbers are amazing. Pant needed 31 fewer Tests than Stokes, 41 fewer innings than Gilchrist, and 1,660 fewer balls than the former Australian wicketkeeper-batter. He also reached 100 sixes in the shortest time after his Test debut, beating Gilchrist by just 14 days.

The way Pant reached 100 sixes also suits his style. He started his Test career with a six. He scored his first Test runs by hitting a six off only the second ball he faced. Almost eight years later, that same attacking style has taken him into an exclusive club.

More sixes since 2025

Pant has hit sixes at a much faster rate over the last two years.

Since the start of 2025, he has hit 32 sixes in just 16 innings. He hit 26 of them in 13 innings in 2025. That was the joint-third-highest total by any batter in a calendar year.

Pant hit at least one six in 14 of those 16 innings. He also hit a six in seven innings in a row. Only the longest streak by any batter has matched that run.

Pant was especially aggressive during the England tour. He hit 17 sixes in seven innings, making him one of the top six-hitters in a single Test series.

This recent rise is important because Pant has always used six-hitting as a big part of his batting. It is not just a flashy part of his game.

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Rishabh Pant hits sixes at a great rate

Among batters who have hit at least 50 Test sixes since 1991, Pant has one of the best six-hitting rates, as per Cricinfo. 

Pant hits a six once every 49.34 balls. Only Tim Southee and Shahid Afridi have hit sixes more often among this group.

The comparison with Gilchrist is very interesting. Gilchrist also reached 100 Test sixes, but Pant has needed far fewer balls to reach the same mark. Pant has made six-hitting a bigger part of his batting than even the Australian great did.

Sixes make up a big part of Pant’s runs

Pant has scored 3,662 Test runs at an average of 43.59. His 100 sixes make up 16.38% of his total Test runs.

Pant ranks third among batters with at least 50 sixes for the percentage of career runs scored through sixes. Only Southee and Afridi rank higher.

Pant also combines his attacking style with a strong Test average. Among the 12 players who have scored at least 10% of their Test runs through sixes, only Gilchrist, Rohit Sharma and Pant average above 40.

The spin factor

Pant has been excellent against spin. Of his first 100 Test sixes, 76 came against spinners. Only Stokes and Misbah-ul-Haq have hit more.

Pant often uses his strong hitting against spin to change the pace of Test matches. Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir have given him nine sixes each. Nathan Lyon has conceded seven, while Keshav Maharaj and Ajaz Patel have given up six each. Against spin, Pant hits a six every 27.37 balls, which is an incredible rate in Test cricket.

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From criticism to impact in Galle

This record came at an important time for Pant. He has faced criticism recently for his shot selection. His attacking style can sometimes lead to poor dismissals. However, that same style has also made him one of the most dangerous wicketkeeper-batters in Test cricket.

In the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, Pant showed the positive side of his game. His quick 66 helped India build a strong lead at an important stage. India ended Day 4 in a strong position, although rain could still affect the final day.

So, Pant’s innings was more than just another record. He helped India move closer to victory while also adding another major moment to his Test career.

The next big target for Rishabh Pant

Pant’s 100th six will probably not be his last big record. Stokes has 138 sixes, while McCullum has 107. Pant can now target both players.

He is already the fastest player to 100 sixes and the first Indian to reach the mark. He also has an excellent record against spin.

Pant’s aggressive batting may sometimes bring criticism, but it is also a major part of his success. In Galle, that attacking style helped him make history.

What do you think? Can Pant keep this incredible six-hitting form going and become Test cricket’s leading six-hitter? Let us know in the comments. 

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