Rishabh Pant Breaks Rohit Sharma’s WTC Record With Gritty Knock At Headingley
Rishabh Pant once again demonstrated his class in Test cricket with a composed, unbeaten 65-run knock on Day 1 of the first Test between India and England at Headingley, Leeds. The dynamic wicketkeeper-batter not only stabilized India’s innings but also etched his name in the record books by surpassing Rohit Sharma to become the Indian with the most sixes in the history of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).
Pant Surpasses Rohit Sharma in WTC Sixes
Pant’s innings featured two towering sixes, taking his WTC tally to 58 sixes in just 35 matches, moving ahead of Rohit Sharma’s 56 sixes in 40 matches. Known for his fearless stroke play and ability to accelerate the scoring rate, Pant has accumulated 2317 runs, including 4 centuries and 14 fifties, in the WTC.
While England’s Ben Stokes still holds the overall record with 83 sixes in 54 matches, Pant’s position at No. 2 underscores his reputation as one of the most explosive batters in the format.
Top 5 Most Sixes in WTC History
| Player | Sixes | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Ben Stokes | 83 | 54* |
| Rishabh Pant | 58 | 35* |
| Rohit Sharma | 56 | 40 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 40 | 20* |
| Daryl Mitchell | 27 | 34 |
Pant Also Surpasses Dhoni in SENA Runs
During his innings, Pant achieved another historic feat—becoming India’s most successful wicketkeeper-batter in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia). With his latest knock, Pant now has 1746 runs in 27 matches in these nations at an average of 38.80, going past MS Dhoni’s tally.
India Dominate Day 1 In Leeds
India had an excellent start to the new World Test Championship cycle. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (101) and KL Rahul (42) added 91 for the first wicket, laying the perfect platform. Jaiswal battled through cramps to score his third Test century before falling right after reaching the landmark.
The day, however, belonged to Shubman Gill, who marked his captaincy debut in the longest format with an authoritative unbeaten 127 off 175 balls. His poise, shot selection, and composure stood out. His 138-run unbeaten partnership with Pant ensured that India ended Day 1 at a dominant position.
Looking Ahead
With the scoreboard reading 294/2 at stumps, India are in control and will look to build a mammoth first-innings total to put England on the back foot early in the series. The tone has been set, and all eyes will be on Gill, Pant, and the middle order to capitalize on this solid start on Day 2.
