Test cricket has long been celebrated as a game of patience, technique, and endurance. But across its 146-year history, a rare breed of batsman has consistently dared to go after the boundary ropes — hitting sixes not by accident, but by design. With Rishabh Pant’s historic milestone on August 18, 2026, the conversation around six-hitting in Test cricket has never been louder. Here is the definitive updated list.
Table of Contents
The Record Breaker — Pant’s Historic Milestone
On August 18, 2026, Rishabh Pant made history on Day 4 of the first Test match against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium — becoming the first Indian player to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket.
Reaching the milestone in just 4,918 balls, he also became the fastest batter ever to reach 100 Test sixes, beating Adam Gilchrist who had needed 6,578 deliveries.
Pant became only the fourth batter in Test history to hit 100 sixes, joining Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, and Adam Gilchrist.
Top 10 Batsmen with Most Sixes in Test Cricket (2026)
| Rank | Player | Country | Sixes | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Stokes | England | 138 | 115 |
| 2 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 107 | 101 |
| 3 | Adam Gilchrist | Australia | 100 | 96 |
| 3= | Rishabh Pant | India | 100 | 50+ |
| 5 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 98 | 103 |
| 6 | Jacques Kallis | South Africa | 97 | 166 |
| 7 | Virender Sehwag | India | 91 | 104 |
| 8 | Angelo Mathews | Sri Lanka | 90 | 119 |
| 9 | Brian Lara | West Indies | 88 | 131 |
| 10 | Chris Cairns | New Zealand | 87 | 62 |
Player-by-Player Breakdown
1. Ben Stokes — 138 Sixes
England’s star all-rounder Ben Stokes currently holds the record for the most sixes in Test cricket, having smashed 138 sixes in the format. Known for his fearless batting and game-changing knocks, Stokes has redefined how modern Test cricket is approached with the bat.
Only former England captain Ben Stokes and former Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq have hit more Test sixes off spinners — Stokes retired with 90 out of his 138 sixes against spin bowling.
2. Brendon McCullum — 107 Sixes
Brendon McCullum revolutionised Test batting with his attacking mindset right from ball one. Known for his flair and confidence, he never hesitated to take bowlers on — even in red-ball cricket. His fearless style resulted in 107 sixes, the second-highest in Tests.
3= Adam Gilchrist — 100 Sixes
Australia’s Adam Gilchrist sits third — or joint third — with 100 sixes, a remarkable number for a wicketkeeper-batter. Gilchrist previously held the record as the fastest batter to reach 100 Test sixes before Pant broke that mark in Galle.
3= Rishabh Pant — 100 Sixes
Pant became the first-ever Indian cricketer to smash 100 sixes in Tests and the fastest batter to achieve this feat in Test cricket. Exactly eight years after making his Test debut against England at Trent Bridge, the Delhi Capitals star completed his 100th maximum with a six off Lahiru Kumara.
Pant’s six-hitting record is also closely linked to his strong record against spin — out of his first 100 Test sixes, 76 have come against spinners.
5. Chris Gayle — 98 Sixes
Gayle played 103 Test matches in which he scored 7,214 runs at an average of 42.18 — the West Indian has the fourth-highest record of hitting the most sixes in Test cricket with 98.
6. Jacques Kallis — 97 Sixes 🇿🇦
Kallis played a total of 166 matches where he scored 13,289 runs — making him also the third-highest run scorer in Test cricket. Kallis hit a total of 97 sixes in Test cricket.
7. Virender Sehwag — 91 Sixes
Sehwag played 104 Tests for India, scoring 8,586 runs at a strike rate of 82.23, with 32 fifties and 23 centuries. He hit 91 sixes in his Test career.
8. Angelo Mathews — 90 Sixes
Former Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews is his country’s leading six-hitter in Test cricket with 90 sixes in 119 Tests. He scored 8,214 runs at an average of 44.40 with 16 centuries and 45 fifties in his Test career from 2009 to 2025.
9. Brian Lara — 88 Sixes
Lara played 131 matches in which he scored 11,953 runs at an astonishing average of 52.88 and hit 88 sixes in his entire career. He also holds the record for the highest individual Test score of all time — 400 not out against England in 2004.
10. Chris Cairns — 87 Sixes
Former New Zealand captain Chris Cairns was one of the finest Test all-rounders for his country and was counted among the cricketers who took to swing the bat most extensively in Test cricket. The right-hander hit 3,320 runs from 62 matches at an average of 33.53 with 87 sixes in Test cricket.
Records Within the Record
| Record | Player | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Most Sixes (All-Time) | Ben Stokes | 138 sixes |
| Fastest to 100 Sixes | Rishabh Pant | 4,918 balls |
| Previous Fastest to 100 | Adam Gilchrist | 6,578 balls |
| Most Sixes (India) | Rishabh Pant | 100 sixes |
| Most Sixes (NZ) | Brendon McCullum | 107 sixes |
| Most Sixes (WI) | Chris Gayle | 98 sixes |
| Most Sixes (SA) | Jacques Kallis | 97 sixes |
| Most Sixes (SL) | Angelo Mathews | 90 sixes |
| Most Sixes (Wicketkeeper) | Rishabh Pant | 100 sixes (fastest ever) |
FAQs
Who has hit the most sixes in Test cricket?
Ben Stokes of England leads the all-time list with 138 sixes in Test cricket. He overtook Brendon McCullum’s record and has since extended his tally, cementing his reputation as the most aggressive Test batter of his generation.
Which Indian batter has hit the most sixes in Test cricket?
Rishabh Pant is now India’s leading six-hitter in Test cricket with 100 sixes, becoming the first Indian ever to reach that milestone. He achieved the feat on August 18, 2026, during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle. He overtook Virender Sehwag, who had 91 sixes.
Who is the fastest batter to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket?
Rishabh Pant is the fastest batter to reach 100 Test sixes, having done so in just 4,918 deliveries. He broke the previous record held by Adam Gilchrist, who had needed 6,578 balls to reach the same milestone.
How many batsmen have hit 100 or more sixes in Test cricket?
As of August 2026, only four batsmen in Test cricket history have hit 100 or more sixes: Ben Stokes (138), Brendon McCullum (107), Adam Gilchrist (100), and Rishabh Pant (100).
Which tail-ender has hit the most sixes in Test cricket?
New Zealand’s Tim Southee — primarily a fast bowler who bats at number nine — is one of the most prolific six-hitters among lower-order batters in Test cricket history, having surpassed Virender Sehwag’s tally of 91 sixes despite batting deep in the order throughout his career.
