Colombo [Sri Lanka], August 24 (ANI): Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant overtook Adam Gilchrist to become the third-highest six-hitter in Test cricket on Monday. The swashbuckling wicketkeeper achieved
this feat during his side’s second Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo on Monday, scoring 63 in 89 balls, with six fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 70.79. Now, Pant, who in the previous Test had become the fourth-highest overall player and the first Indian to reach 100 sixes in Tests, has 102 sixes in 52 Tests, going above Aussie legend Gilchrist, who smashed 100 sixes in 96 Tests. In the top two places are former England captain Ben Stokes (138 sixes in 122 matches) and former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum (107 sixes in 101 matches). Pant continued his record-breaking feat in Tests, overtaking skipper Shubman Gill (2,917 runs in 42 Tests with 10 centuries and nine fifties) to become India’s highest run-getter of all time in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). In 42 matches and 74 innings, he has scored 2,948 runs at an average of 42.11 and a strike rate of over 74, with six centuries, 18 fifties and a best score of 146. He also overtook legendary Indian wicketkeeper and captain MS Dhoni (2,496 runs in 48 Tests with a century and 18 fifties) for most runs by an Indian keeper in away/neutral Tests, now having made 2,534 runs in 36 Tests and 64 innings at an average of 41.54, including six centuries and 11 fifties. In three Tests and four innings this year, Pant has made 249 runs at an average of 62.25 and a strike rate of 73.02, with three fifties and a best score of 81. India reached 475/8 before rain forced an early close to the second session on Day 2 of the second and final Test against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Monday, with Dhruv Jurel unbeaten on 95, just five runs short of his maiden Test century, and Mohammed Siraj at the other end. Jurel added 36 runs to his score to reach 95, taking charge of India’s lower order with assured batting. He remained unbeaten alongside Mohammed Siraj when worsening weather forced the players off the field as an early Tea was called on Day 2. Resuming at 419/6 after lunch, India lost Rishabh Pant (63 off 89) to Keshara Nuwantha off the very first ball of the second session. (ANI)
