India vice-captain Rishabh Pant broke another record on Day 2 of the first Test against South Africa at the Eden Gardens. He became the Indian batter with the most sixes in Test cricket, smashing 92 sixes in just 83 innings.
Pant crossed Virender Sehwag’s record of 91 sixes in 108 innings. He also moved into the elite group of the world’s top Test six-hitters, joining Ben Stokes (136 in 206 innings), Brendon McCullum (107 in 176 innings), Adam Gilchrist (100 in 137 innings), Tim Southee (98 in 156 innings), Chris Gayle (98 in 182 innings) and Jacques Kallis (97 in 280 innings).
His innings on Day 2 showed his fearless cricket. It began with a bit of luck after an outside edge off Keshav Maharaj in the 38th over. But Pant didn’t step back. On the very next ball, he stepped out and hit Maharaj for a huge six over mid-off, which set the tone of his innings.
After the early wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal (12), KL Rahul (39) and Washington Sundar (29) steadied the innings with a 57-run stand. Pant scored 27 off 24 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes, at a strike rate of 112.50. Ravindra Jadeja also scored 27 off 45 balls. India reached a total of 189 in their first innings in 62.2 overs, managing a 30-run lead.
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