Leeds, June 21, 2025 — Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant delivered a stellar performance on Day 1 of the first Test against England at Headingley, Leeds, by remaining unbeaten on 65 runs off 102 balls. The left-handed batter struck six boundaries and two towering sixes, helping stabilize India’s innings under the leadership of stand-in captain Shubman Gill.
New Sixes Record in WTC
During his explosive innings, Pant broke Rohit Sharma’s record for the most sixes by an Indian batter in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). Rohit had hit 56 sixes in 40 WTC matches, while Pant now holds 58 sixes in just 35 matches.
Pant currently trails only England skipper Ben Stokes, who leads the WTC sixes chart with 83 sixes in 54 matches.
Top 10 Six-Hitters in WTC History
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Stokes | England | 54 | 83 |
| 2 | Rishabh Pant | India | 35 | 58* |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma | India | 40 | 56 |
| 4 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | India | 20 | 40 |
| 5 | Daryl Mitchell | New Zealand | 27 | 34 |
| 6 | Shubman Gill | India | — | 32 |
| 7 | Jonny Bairstow | England | — | 32 |
| 8 | Travis Head | Australia | — | 31 |
| 9 | Harry Brook | England | — | 29 |
| 10 | Ravindra Jadeja | India | — | 29 |
🇮🇳 Pant Climbs Indian Test Sixes Ladder
With 76 sixes in 44 Test matches, Rishabh Pant is now fourth on the list of most sixes by an Indian in Test cricket, surpassing legendary names and closely trailing behind:
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Virender Sehwag – 90
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Rohit Sharma – 88
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MS Dhoni – 78
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Rishabh Pant – 76*
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Ravindra Jadeja – 69
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Sachin Tendulkar – 69
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Kapil Dev – 61
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Sourav Ganguly – 57
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Harbhajan Singh – 42
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Yashasvi Jaiswal – 40
Chasing MS Dhoni’s Century Record
Pant also crossed the 3,000-run milestone in Test cricket during his innings on Friday. If he converts his overnight score into a century on Day 2, he will surpass MS Dhoni’s record of six Test centuries, becoming the Indian wicketkeeper with the most Test hundreds.
Dhoni registered six centuries in 90 Tests, while Pant has equalled that tally in just 44 matches — underlining his aggressive, match-changing impact.
Match Situation: India’s Resurgence
With Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring a composed 101 and Pant anchoring the middle order, India looks to post a formidable first-innings total against England. Notably, this series marks India’s first Test appearance since Rohit Sharma’s retirement from the red-ball format.
What’s Next?
As the Headingley Test continues, all eyes will be on Rishabh Pant to convert his promising start into a landmark innings. If he reaches triple figures, it will mark a defining moment in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle — and further cement Pant’s reputation as one of the finest modern Test wicketkeeper-batters.
