Pant-astic power: Rishabh overtakes Sehwag to become India’s six-hitting king

Kolkata: Rishabh Pant delivered a landmark performance at Eden Gardens, surpassing Virender Sehwag to become India’s leading six-hitter in Test cricket.

The wicketkeeper-batter smashed two sixes off just 24 balls on Day 2 of the opening Test against South Africa, taking his tally to 92 sixes—the most by any Indian in Test history.

Pant’s new record places him ahead of Sehwag (90), followed by Rohit Sharma (88), Ravindra Jadeja (80), and MS Dhoni (78). Globally, he now sits seventh on the all-time Test six-hitters list, led by England captain Ben Stokes with 136.

Needing just one maximum to go past Sehwag when he walked out in the morning session, Pant wasted no time, dispatching Keshav Maharaj for a six off the fifth ball he faced. He struck another off the same bowler before falling to pacer Corbin Bosch for a brisk 27.

In the match, India went into lunch at 138/4, with Ravindra Jadeja and Dhruv Jurel steady at the crease. Starting Day 2 at 37/1 and trailing by 122 runs, KL Rahul and Washington Sundar put together a composed 57-run partnership before Simon Harmer removed Sundar for 29.

Shortly afterward, Shubman Gill retired hurt, bringing Pant into the middle. His short but lively stay ended as Bosch struck again just when his stand with Rahul was beginning to grow. Rahul himself was dismissed for a gritty 39, leaving India at 132/4 before Jadeja and Jurel guided the side to the lunch interval.