Top 5 Indian wicketkeepers with most sixes in Test cricket — Where does Rishabh Pant rank?
Rishabh Pant has become the Indian wicketkeeper with the most sixes in Test cricket, smashing 97 sixes in just 50 matches. Here's a look at the top five Indian wicketkeepers with the most sixes in Test cricket and where Pant ranks on the elite list.
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The Indian team delivered a dominant performance against Afghanistan in the only Test of the ongoing multi-format series at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. India outclassed the visitors in all departments and secured a massive victory by an innings and 300 runs. Debutant spinner Manav Suthar emerged as the star of the match with a sensational six-wicket haul, helping India take complete control of the contest.
While Suthar grabbed the spotlight for his dream Test debut, star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant also achieved a major milestone during the match. The left-handed batter from Delhi continued his aggressive style of play and added another record to his growing list of achievements in Test cricket.
Pant has now smashed 97 sixes in just 50 Test matches, making him the Indian wicketkeeper with the most sixes in the longest format. His fearless batting approach has established him as one of the most destructive wicketkeeper-batters in Test cricket. He moved ahead of former India captain MS Dhoni, who finished his Test career with 78 sixes from 90 matches. Here is the list of the top five Indian wicketkeepers with the most sixes in Test cricket.
Top 5 Indian Wicketkeepers With Most Sixes in Test Cricket
| Rank | Player | Matches | Innings | Runs | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rishabh Pant | 50 | 87 | 3,557 | 97 |
| 2 | MS Dhoni | 90 | 144 | 4,876 | 78 |
| 3 | Wriddhiman Saha | 39 | 54 | 1,317 | 14 |
| 4 | Dhruv Jurel | 6 | 9 | 418 | 10 |
| 5 | KS Bharat | 7 | 12 | 221 | 6 |
5. KS Bharat (7 matches, 6 sixes)
The fifth name on this list is KS Bharat. The Andhra Pradesh wicketkeeper-batter did not start his career as a regular wicketkeeper and only took up the role in the final year of his Under-19 career. Later, he had to compete with established stars like Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant for a place in India's Test team.
Bharat received his maiden India call-up in November 2019 but had to wait until February 2023 to make his Test debut. His opportunity came after Rishabh Pant was ruled out following his car accident. Before his debut, Bharat had already impressed as a substitute wicketkeeper during the Kanpur Test against New Zealand in 2021, taking two catches and completing a stumping when Saha was injured.
The Right-handed batter represented India in seven Test matches between 2023 and 2024, scoring 221 runs in 12 innings with a highest score of 44. Although he did not register a half-century or century, he made useful contributions with both bat and gloves. Bharat also played in the 2023 World Test Championship Final and finished his Test career with six sixes. On June 4, he announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing the curtain down on his journey with Team India.
4. Dhruv Jurel (6 matches, 10 sixes)
The fourth name on this list is Dhruv Jurel. Although he was part of India's squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, he did not get the opportunity to keep wickets as Rishabh Pant was the team's first-choice wicketkeeper. However, Jurel continued to be an important member of the squad with his batting abilities.
The right-handed batter from Uttar Pradesh first gained recognition through his performances in the IPL. He has scored more than 1,100 runs in the tournament and established himself as a dependable middle-order batter. His consistent performances in domestic and franchise cricket eventually earned him a place in the Indian Test team.
Jurel has made an impressive start to his Test career, playing 10 matches and scoring 478 runs in 16 innings. He has registered a high score of 125 and has shown great composure under pressure. With 10 sixes to his name, Jurel occupies the fourth spot among Indian wicketkeepers with the most sixes in Test cricket and is regarded as one of India's most promising red-ball players.
3. Wriddhiman Saha (39 matches, 14 sixes)
The third name on this list is Wriddhiman Saha. The Bengal wicketkeeper-batter received his first opportunity in the Indian Test team during the home series against South Africa. A last-minute injury to Rohit Sharma handed him an unexpected Test debut in Nagpur in 2010, where he played purely as a batter.
Saha's early appearances for India came under unusual circumstances. His second Test match against Australia in Adelaide in 2012 came after MS Dhoni was suspended for a slow over-rate offence. For several years, Saha remained India's backup wicketkeeper on overseas tours while waiting patiently for a regular opportunity in the playing XI.
That opportunity arrived after Dhoni retired from Test cricket in 2014. Saha went on to establish himself as one of the finest wicketkeepers India has produced and became a reliable presence behind the stumps. During his Test career, he hit 14 sixes, placing him third on the list of Indian wicketkeepers with the most sixes in Test cricket. Saha announced his retirement from all forms of cricket before the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season, bringing an end to a remarkable career.
2. MS Dhoni (90 matches, 78 sixes)
The second name on this list is MS Dhoni. One of the greatest captains in Indian cricket history, Dhoni, finished his Test career with 78 sixes in 90 matches. For many years, he held the record for the most sixes by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket before Rishabh Pant went past his tally.
Dhoni's rise to the top is one of the most remarkable stories in Indian cricket. Hailing from Jharkhand, he built his career through his unique batting style, sharp wicketkeeping skills, and calm leadership. He became one of the most popular cricketers in the world and played a major role in transforming Indian cricket during his era.
Under Dhoni's captaincy, India reached the No. 1 position in the ICC Test rankings and remained there for 18 months starting in December 2009. He retired from Test cricket after the Melbourne Test against Australia in 2014. Dhoni ended his career in whites with 4,876 runs, six centuries, an average of over 38, and nearly 300 dismissals behind the stumps, cementing his legacy as one of India's greatest wicketkeeper-batters.
1. Rishabh Pant ( 50 matches, 97*sixes)
The top spot on this list belongs to Rishabh Pant. The Delhi-born wicketkeeper-batter is the only active player among the top five and currently holds the record for the most sixes by an Indian wicketkeeper in Test cricket. Pant has smashed 97 sixes in just 50 Test matches, surpassing the previous record held by MS Dhoni. He achieved the milestone during India's one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh.
Pant has established himself as one of the most exciting wicketkeeper-batters in modern cricket. Known for his fearless approach, he has often changed the course of matches with his aggressive strokeplay. His first Test century came during the 2018 tour of England, where he scored 114. A few months later, he played a memorable innings of 159 in Sydney, helping India secure their historic first Test series win in Australia.
Some of Pant's finest moments have come in overseas conditions. His unbeaten 89 at Brisbane in 2021 guided an injury-hit Indian side to a famous victory and a second consecutive Test series win in Australia. He also produced crucial centuries against England and South Africa, proving his ability to perform under pressure. With 3,557 runs, eight centuries, and 97 sixes in Test cricket, Pant has already built an impressive legacy and continues to set new records for Indian wicketkeepers.
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