RISHABH Pant became the first Indian batter to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket when he pulled Sri Lanka’s Lahiru Kumara over fine-leg during the Galle Test.
He is only the fourth to hit 100 sixes in Tests and is currently tied at third alongside Adam Gilchrist, who was the first to reach the milestone.
Ahead of Pant are Ben Stokes (138) and Brendon McCullum (107). Among the four batters to hit 100 sixes, Pant is by far the fastest to the milestone in terms of number of matches, innings and balls faced.
He took 31 Tests fewer than Stokes, and 41 innings and 1660 balls fewer than Gilchrist. Pant is also the quickest in terms of days from debut, although only 14 days fewer than Gilchrist.
Pant’s Test career started with a six, having got off the mark in the format with one off the second ball he faced.