Rishabh Pant surpasses Gilchrist, becomes wicket-keeper with most Test sixes
What's the story
Rishabh Pant has surpassed former Australian player Adam Gilchrist to become the wicket-keeper with the most sixes in Test cricket. The milestone was achieved on Day 2 of the second Test match against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo. Pant hit his 101st six during India's innings, taking his total to third place on the all-time list. Here are the key stats.
Knock
A fine hand from Pant
Pant had to retire hurt on Day 1 of the second Test after being hit on the wrist.
However, he returned on Day 2 morning following Saransh Jain's early ouster.
He joined forces with Dhruv Jurel, and the duo's 112-run stand kept India on course.
Despite a bouncer barrage from pacers Asitha Fernando and Lahiru Kumara, Pant stood his ground.
He reached his half-century in 81 balls. Pant, who eventually fell to Keshara Nuwantha, made 63 off 89 balls.
This knock was laced with six fours and two sixes. Notably, the dasher had made 66 off 69 balls in the series opener.
Elite list
Pant gets to the top
In the series opener, Pant became the first Indian to complete 100 sixes in Test cricket.
With his first maximum in the second match, the southpaw went past Gilchrist's tally of 100 maximums as a designated gloveman.
India's MS Dhoni (78) and Australia's Brad Haddin (54) are the only other keepers with at least 40 maximums in Test cricket.
Meanwhile, Pant, with 102 big hits, is now only behind England's Ben Stokes (138) and New Zealand's Brendon McCullum (107) in terms of Test maximums.
Career
Over 3,700 runs in the format
Pant has also been a prolific run-scorer for India, amassing 3,725 runs across 52 matches at an average of 43.82.
He is the second-highest run-scorer as a wicketkeeper for India in Tests, only behind Dhoni (4,876).
His eight centuries speak volumes about his ability to anchor innings despite the challenges of the format.
Only Gilchrist (17) and Andy Flower (12) have hammered more hundreds as a designated keeper.
The one in Colombo was Pant's 21st fifty.
Milestone
2,500 Test runs away from home
During his stay, Pant also became the first Indian and fourth batter overall to complete 2,500 Test runs away from home (away plus neutral Tests) as a designated keeper.
Playing his 36th Test outside India, Pant has taken his tally to 2,534 runs at an average of 41.54.
This includes 17 50-plus scores, including two tons.
Meanwhile, Pakistan's Sarfaraz Ahmed (2,696), Gilchrist (2,634), and South Africa's Mark Boucher (2,514) are the other batters on this list.
Information
Third-most Test sixes away from home
While Pant has completed 61 Test sixes outside home, Pakistan's Misbah-ul-Haq (80) and Stokes (69) are the only ones with the most sixes in this regard. Gilchrist (57) trails Pant among keepers on this list.