Rishabh Pant Breaks Viv Richards’ Record for Most Sixes in Tests Against England
India’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant etched another chapter in his already thrilling Test career by breaking a long-standing record held by one of cricket’s greatest – Sir Vivian Richards. On Saturday, July 12, during the third Test against England at Lord’s, Pant smashed his 35th and 36th sixes in Tests against England, surpassing Richards’ record of 34.
Viv Richards had held the record for nearly four decades, having hit 34 sixes across 36 Tests against England. Pant has now gone past the legendary West Indian in just his 15th Test against the Three Lions — a testament to his fearless and aggressive brand of cricket.
Pant broke the record in style — launching Ben Stokes for a six on the last ball of the 59th over and then depositing Shoaib Bashir into the stands on the very first ball of the 62nd over during India’s first innings.
Most Sixes in Tests Against England:
| Player | Sixes | Team | Tests Played |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rishabh Pant | 36 | India | 15 |
| Viv Richards | 34 | West Indies | 36 |
| Tim Southee | 30 | New Zealand | – |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 27 | India | – |
| Shubman Gill | 26 | India | – |
Pant’s aggressive knock of 74 off 112 balls also included 8 fours and 2 sixes. He built a crucial 141-run partnership with KL Rahul for the fourth wicket. His dismissal came via a sharp direct hit from Ben Stokes, just as he attempted to rotate the strike and give Rahul a shot at a Lord’s century before lunch.
Most Sixes by Indians in Test Cricket:
| Player | Sixes |
|---|---|
| Virender Sehwag | 91 |
| Rishabh Pant | 88 |
| Rohit Sharma | 88 |
| MS Dhoni | 78 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 72 |
Pant’s tally of 88 career sixes now places him joint-second among Indians in Test cricket history, alongside Rohit Sharma and just three short of Sehwag’s record. Given Pant’s attacking instincts and current form, it’s only a matter of time before he becomes India’s all-time leader in Test sixes.
Matching MS Dhoni’s Feat in England
Pant’s half-century at Lord’s also marked his eighth 50+ score in England, allowing him to equal MS Dhoni’s record for most such scores by a visiting wicketkeeper in England. Dhoni achieved the feat in 23 innings; Pant has done it in just 22.
As India’s Test campaign in England continues, Rishabh Pant is proving why he’s among the most entertaining and impactful modern Test cricketers. With records tumbling in his wake, Pant’s hunger for milestones and flair for the spectacular remain as strong as ever.
