Rishabh Pant Breaks Sehwag’s Sixes Record and Becomes India’s Second Wicketkeeper-Captain in Tests

• DATE: 23 11 25
• BY: Caspian Harrington

On November 15, 2025, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Rishabh Pant didn’t just hit a six—he rewrote history. The 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batter launched his 91st Test six off Corbin Bosch, surpassing Virender Sehwag’s long-standing record of 90. By the end of his 27-run innings, he’d added another, bringing his total to 92 sixes in just 83 innings. Sehwag, who took 178 Tests to reach 90, was left in the dust. It wasn’t just a statistical milestone. It was a statement: Pant plays with the kind of fearless instinct that turns pressure into poetry.

A Record Born in Boldness

Pant’s 92nd six came on the second day of the first Test against South Africa, a moment that had commentators leaning forward in their seats. "It sums up Pant in a nutshell: bold, instinctive, unstoppable," wrote The Times of India. He’d entered the crease with India at 105 for 2 after Jasprit Bumrah had dismantled South Africa for 159 with a devastating 5 for 27. The pitch was alive, the crowd roaring. And Pant, ever the showman, responded with two sixes and four fours in 24 balls before being caught behind.

The numbers tell a stark story: Rohit Sharma has 88 sixes in 116 innings. Ravindra Jadeja, the all-rounder, has 80 in 129. Even MS Dhoni, the legendary finisher, managed only 78 in 144. Pant’s rate—just over one six every 0.9 innings—is unprecedented. Globally, only Adam Gilchrist (100 sixes in 137 innings) has more among wicketkeepers.

From Vice-Captain to Captain: The Unexpected Transition

Just seven days later, on November 22, 2025, at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, another chapter unfolded. Regular captain Shubman Gill, who’d been on the cusp of breaking Sehwag’s record for fastest Indian to 3,000 Test runs, suffered a neck spasm after facing just three balls on Day 2 of the first Test. He was ruled out for the remainder of the series.

Pant, who had already stepped in as stand-in captain for the final two days of the Kolkata Test, was named full-time captain for the second Test. At 27, he became only the second wicketkeeper-batter in Indian history to lead the team in Test cricket—after MS Dhoni. He’s also the 38th captain of India in Test history and the 35th wicketkeeper to captain any international side.

"It’s not about replacing Gill," said former captain Sourav Ganguly in a post-match interview. "It’s about trusting the man who’s already proven he can lead under pressure. Pant doesn’t just play the game—he owns it."

The Bigger Picture: Records, Rivalries, and the WTC

The India-South Africa series isn’t just about individual brilliance—it’s a high-stakes battle in the World Test Championship 2023–2025 cycle. With both teams vying for crucial points, every run, every wicket, carries weight. India’s dominant Day 1 in Kolkata, powered by Bumrah’s spell, set the tone. But the series has seen more than just Pant’s fireworks.

Before the series, KL Rahul was just 15 runs shy of 4,000 Test runs. Ravindra Jadeja needed 10 runs and 12 wickets to join an elite global club of 4,000+ runs and 300+ wickets. Kuldeep Yadav was chasing 350 international wickets. Even Gill, though sidelined, had been on track to become the fastest Indian to 3,000 Test runs.

South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, kept fighting. They won the toss in Guwahati and chose to bat first—a tactical nod to the slow, turning track. India’s spin duo of Jadeja and Kuldeep, supported by Mohammed Siraj’s pace, were expected to dominate as the match wore on.

What This Means for Indian Cricket

Pant’s dual achievements aren’t just personal—they signal a generational shift. Sehwag’s record stood for over a decade. Dhoni’s captaincy legacy was considered untouchable. Now, Pant holds both torches. He’s the first Indian wicketkeeper to captain the side since Dhoni retired from Tests in 2014. And he’s done it while carrying the weight of being India’s most explosive batter in the longest format.

His leadership style is different from Dhoni’s calm, calculating aura. Pant leads with energy, emotion, and aggression. He’s the kind of captain who’ll take a gamble on a leg-spinning off-break to a right-hander on a flat pitch—and back it up with a grin. That’s not always textbook. But in modern Test cricket, where attention spans are short and excitement is currency, it might be exactly what the game needs.

The Indian selectors didn’t just appoint a replacement. They bet on a phenomenon. And so far, the bet is paying off.