On the fourth day of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka, Rishabh Pant smashed a six and sent the ball out of the stadium. He was up against Sri Lankan fast bowler Lahiru Kumara and the Indian wicketkeeper-batter
stepped down the track and launched the ball clean out of the Galle International Stadium. It happened in the 27th over of India’s second innings. Kumara came on and bowled a length delivery around the off stump, clocked around 133 kph. Pant advanced and moved slightly across to create room, and swung through the line of the ball. The ball flew high over the long-off boundary to clear the stands, and landed on the road outside the ground near parked buses.
Rishabh Pant stepped out and sent that one straight into the Galle skyline. 🚀 Watch #SLvIND, 1st Test | Day 4, LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV #BeautifulGameOfTestCricket pic.twitter.com/rqOJoGZChq
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 18, 2026
Television cameras followed its path beyond the boundary as umpires called for a replacement ball. Sony Sports Network captured the moment with the line that spread quickly across social media: “Rishabh Pant stepped out and sent that one straight into the Galle skyline.” Fans on X described it as a monster hit that left the stadium and there were many people sharing the clips with several posts simply reacting in disbelief at the power and elevation.
Rishabh Pant’s fifty Helps India Set Sri Lanka 372-Run Target
The six was one of the highlights of Pant’s crucial knock off 66 from 69 balls, an innings that included eight fours and two sixes. Later in the same knock he would again smash a six to Kumara, bringing up both his fifty and his 100th six in Test cricket. That second six made him the first Indian and the fastest player overall to reach the landmark, getting there in just 89 innings. India had started the day with a 178-run lead and were looking to score quickly on a turning surface to set a challenging target.
Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for a three-ball duck, but KL Rahul (35) and Devdutt Padikkal (44) steadied things with a good partnership. Shubman Gill managed only 8 before Prabath Jayasuriya trapped him lbw. Padikkal continued to look solid until he was dismissed just before lunch. At lunch India were 116 for 4 with a lead of 294, Pant unbeaten on 21.
After the break Pant accelerated and added 54 runs with Ravindra Jadeja while taking the attack to the spinners and seamers. Once he was dismissed for 66 (caught behind off Kumara), the lower order were dismissed cheaply. Asitha Fernando finished with 4 for 31 and Jayasuriya claimed 3 for 43. Early wickets had put some pressure on the visitors but Pant’s aggressive approach helped push the lead past 350. India were eventually bowled out for 193 and Sri Lanka were set a target of 372.
