CM Nayab Saini Hails Rishabh Pant's 100 Test Sixes Milestone
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini congratulated Rishabh Pant on 18 August 2026 after the wicketkeeper-batter became the first Indian cricketer to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket, calling the feat an inspiration for the country's young athletes.
Key Takeaways
Rishabh Pant became the first Indian cricketer to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket , a record achieved on 18 August 2026 .
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini posted a congratulatory message on X in Hindi, hailing Pant as India's 'aggressive batter and wicketkeeper.' CM Saini expressed hope the milestone would 'ignite new energy and confidence' in young Indian cricketers.
The record adds another chapter to Pant's celebrated comeback after a serious road accident in December 2022.
No other Indian batter had previously reached the 100-sixes mark in Test cricket.
A record that had never been touched in Indian cricket history fell on Tuesday, 18 August 2026 — and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini was among the first to mark the moment. Rishabh Pant became the first Indian cricketer to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket, and CM Saini took to X to celebrate the achievement with a sharp, warm salute to the wicketkeeper-batter.
Posting in Hindi, CM Saini wrote: 'शाबाश पंत!!' — 'Well done, Pant!!' — before noting that Pant, described as India's 'aggressive batter and wicketkeeper,' had claimed a landmark no Indian had reached before him in the longest format of the game. 'Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for this magnificent achievement,' Saini added, expressing hope that the milestone would 'ignite new energy and confidence in the young players of the country.'
A milestone built on audacity
Rishabh Pant has long been Test cricket's most instinctive big-hitter — a left-handed batter whose approach to the longest format has consistently defied convention. Reaching 100 Test sixes is a product of that philosophy: the audacious sweep, the inside-out drive, the lofted on-drive that most batters would never attempt in a five-day match. No Indian before him had crossed this mark.
The milestone also carries a deeply personal weight. Pant's return to international cricket after a life-threatening road accident in December 2022 is one of sport's more remarkable comeback stories — making every record he now sets carry an extra layer of significance for fans and administrators alike.
Why a Haryana CM's congratulations land differently
Rishabh Pant was born in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, but developed his cricket in Delhi and has strong roots in the broader north Indian cricketing belt that Haryana — a state with a fierce cricketing tradition of its own — identifies with closely. CM Saini's message reflects both personal pride and a broader north Indian celebration of a player who has become one of the country's most-watched cricketers in any format.
Saini's closing line — that Pant's achievement should inspire the nation's young athletes — is a recurring motif in how Indian political leaders engage with sporting milestones, using them as a soft-power moment to speak directly to youth.
One record, one comeback, one hundred sixes: Rishabh Pant has given Indian cricket a number it will not forget in a hurry.
Point of View
Aspirational messaging — particularly when the achiever has a compelling personal narrative. Pant's 100-sixes record is not just a statistical landmark; it signals a shift in how India's Test batters are expected to play, with aggression no longer treated as a liability in the longest format. For the BJP, which has consistently sought to align itself with sporting nationalism, celebrating such moments publicly reinforces a broader political brand around national pride and youth empowerment. The Haryana connection — a state that punches well above its weight in Indian sport — gives Saini's message an additional layer of regional resonance.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the first Indian cricketer to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket?
Rishabh Pant is the first Indian cricketer to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket, achieving the milestone on 18 August 2026 .
What did Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini say about Rishabh Pant?
CM Saini congratulated Pant on X, calling him India's 'aggressive batter and wicketkeeper' and expressing hope the record would inspire young Indian athletes with 'new energy and confidence.'
Has any other Indian batter hit 100 sixes in Test cricket before Pant?
No. Rishabh Pant is the first Indian player ever to reach the mark of 100 sixes in Test cricket.
What is Rishabh Pant known for in Test cricket?
Pant is known for his aggressive, instinctive batting style and his role as India's first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in Tests. He is also celebrated for his comeback after a near-fatal road accident in December 2022.
Why did Haryana CM congratulate Rishabh Pant?
CM Nayab Singh Saini congratulated Pant on becoming the first Indian to hit 100 Test sixes, using the occasion to encourage young cricketers and athletes across the country.
