Genius in this format: Former India bowler calls Rishabh Pant India's greatest-ever Test wicket-keeper batter

Rishabh Pant has become the first Indian batter to reach 100 sixes in Test cricket, achieving the milestone during India's first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle on August 18, 2026. In that match, Pant scored 66 runs from 69 balls, striking eight fours and two sixes at a strike rate exceeding 95. This record places him among an elite group of only four batters worldwide to accomplish the feat in Test cricket.

Former India seamer Dodda Ganesh, who took 365 first-class wickets across four Tests and one ODI, has offered a striking assessment of Pant's place in Indian cricket history. Ganesh believes Pant's overall contribution to Test cricket extends far beyond his aggressive batting style and record-breaking achievements.

"Nostalgia is great. But I don't think India has had a better WK-batsman than Rishabh Pant in the tests," Ganesh tweeted.

Pant's Test record underscores the substance behind Ganesh's assessment. The wicket-keeper batter has accumulated 3,557 runs at an average of 43.37, with 8 centuries and 19 fifties across his Test career. He has scored Test hundreds in England, Australia and South Africa, demonstrating his ability to perform in varied conditions across the world's premier cricket stages.

"The kind of impact he has had in his career spanning 50 tests and the number of tests he has won with his bat is on par with some of the great batters of the past," Ganesh continued.

Among Indian wicket-keepers, Pant occupies the second position for highest run-scorers despite playing fewer matches than his predecessors. MS Dhoni, India's most celebrated wicket-keeper batter, averaged 38.09 in Tests, while Syed Kirmani averaged 27.04. Pant's average of 43.37 places him ahead of both in terms of efficiency, though Dhoni remains ahead in total runs due to his longer career span.

Pant reached the 100-sixes milestone in just 51 Tests, making him the fastest to the landmark among the four batters to achieve it. Ben Stokes leads with 138 sixes, followed by Brendon McCullum with 107. Pant took 31 Tests fewer than Stokes to reach 100 sixes, and 41 innings and 1,660 balls fewer than Adam Gilchrist, the previous record holder among wicket-keepers. Former India opener Virender Sehwag remains the closest Indian to this milestone, having scored 90 sixes across his Test career.