Pant hits 100 Test sixes, first Indian to reach milestone in Galle
Synopsis
Rishabh Pant has become the first Indian — and only the fourth batter in history — to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket, reaching the landmark in Galle against Sri Lanka with a towering six off Lahiru Kumara that doubled as his fifty. He now stands level with Adam Gilchrist, the man who first set the bar.
Key Takeaways
Rishabh Pant became the first Indian cricketer to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket on 18 August at Galle .
He is only the fourth batter overall to reach the milestone, alongside Ben Stokes (138) , Brendon McCullum (107) , and Adam Gilchrist (100) .
Pant needed three sixes coming into the match — he hit one in the first innings and two in the second.
The landmark six off Lahiru Kumara over deep fine leg also brought up his fifty off 53 balls .
At the time of writing, India were 116 for 4 in their second innings, leading by 294 runs .
Rishabh Pant scripted history on Day 4 of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Tuesday, 18 August, becoming the first Indian cricketer to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket. The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter reached the landmark during the second innings, joining an elite group of only four batters ever to achieve the feat in the longest format.
How the Milestone Unfolded
Pant had entered the match needing three sixes to complete his century of maximums, having accumulated 97 going into the contest. He struck one in the first innings — during a brisk 39 off 62 balls that included four fours — and needed two more heading into the second innings.
In the first session of Day 4, he launched Lahiru Kumara straight and clean out of the ground for a maximum. After a patient wait through the second session — during which Asitha Fernando and off-spinner Keshara Nuwantha tested him with bouncers and tight lines — Pant found his moment, depositing Kumara over deep fine leg for his 100th six. The shot simultaneously brought up his half-century off 53 balls.
Where Pant Stands in the All-Time List
With his landmark six, Pant drew level with former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist, who was the first cricketer in history to reach 100 Test sixes and finished his career at exactly that number. Pant is now the fourth batter overall to reach the mark. The list is led by recently retired England all-rounder Ben Stokes with 138, followed by former New Zealand captain and ex-England Test head coach Brendon McCullum with 107.
Smart Batting Under Pressure
Pant's innings was as much about discipline as power. He repeatedly left short deliveries from Fernando and Kumara that were angled to provoke false strokes. Against Nuwantha — who had dismissed him in the first innings — he was particularly measured, deploying the reverse sweep to telling effect and picking up several fours without going aerial.
The 28-year-old remained crucial for India as the side sought to build an imposing second-innings lead. Dhruv Jurel had been dismissed early in the second session for just 7, placing added responsibility on Pant.
India's Position at the Break
At the time of the milestone, India had advanced to 116 for 4 in their second innings, holding an overall lead of 294 runs. KL Rahul and Devdutt Padikkal had provided resistance after Yashasvi Jaiswal was removed by Fernando in the opening over of the second innings.
For Sri Lanka, Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya had claimed two wickets each, while Keshara Nuwantha had taken one. With the match finely poised, Pant's continued presence at the crease could prove decisive in shaping the final target Sri Lanka will need to chase.
Point of View
The man who invented the template, is fitting. What mainstream coverage may underplay is the discipline behind the landmark: this innings was built on patience and reverse sweeps, not reckless slogging. For a player who spent nearly two years recovering from a career-threatening accident, the milestone carries a weight that the numbers alone cannot capture.
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. He achieved the milestone on Day 4 of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on 18 August.
Who else has hit 100 or more sixes in Test cricket?
Only four batters in history have reached 100 Test sixes. Ben Stokes leads the list with 138, followed by Brendon McCullum with 107, and Adam Gilchrist with exactly 100. Pant has now joined Gilchrist at 100.
How did Pant reach the milestone?
Pant entered the Galle Test needing three sixes. He hit one in the first innings and two in the second, with the landmark blow — a six off Lahiru Kumara over deep fine leg — also bringing up his half-century off 53 balls.
What was India's match situation when Pant reached the milestone?
India were 116 for 4 in their second innings at the time, holding an overall lead of 294 runs over Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle.
Why is the milestone significant for Indian cricket?
No Indian batter had previously reached 100 Test sixes, making Pant the first to do so in the history of the format. The achievement places him alongside three of the most destructive batters the game has seen, and reinforces his standing as one of the most influential wicketkeeper-batters of his generation.
