A Day of 16 Wickets—and Pant Shatters Six-Hitting Record!

The second day of the Kolkata Test delivered pure drama as 16 wickets fell in a remarkable collapse-filled spectacle. At one stage, it even appeared the match might finish inside two days. While that did not happen, the India–South Africa Test now seems almost certain to end within three. To drag it into day four, South African captain Temba Bavuma will need nothing short of a miracle from his tail-enders.

South Africa closed day two at 93 for 7, holding a 63-run lead over India. Bavuma remained unbeaten on 29, trying to anchor what is left of the innings. A defeat here would bring him his first loss as captain in his 11th Test as skipper.

India resumed the day on 37 for 1, finishing the first session strongly on 138 for 4, only to collapse to 189 all out in the second session. Still, they secured a 30-run lead. Opener KL Rahul top-scored with 39, supported by Washington Sundar’s 29 in a 57-run stand for the second wicket. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja chipped in with 27 apiece.

The Indian spinners then took full control. Ravindra Jadeja picked up 4 wickets, with Kuldeep Yadav adding 2 and Axar Patel 1. Jadeja struck in the seventh over, removing Ryan Rickelton via a sharp catch at short leg by Dhruv Jurel. South Africa then lost wickets at regular intervals.

But the most memorable moment of the day came from Rishabh Pant, who smashed two sixes during his 24-ball 27—enough to set a new national record.
He is now India’s leading six-hitter in Test cricket.

Pant’s tally stands at 92 sixes from just 83 innings, overtaking Virender Sehwag, who struck 90 sixes but needed 178 innings to do so. Rohit Sharma sits third among Indians with 88 sixes in 116 innings.

In the global rankings, Ben Stokes leads with 136 sixes in 206 innings, followed by Brendon McCullum (107). Pant currently occupies seventh place worldwide, with a staggering strike rate and six-hitting ability unmatched by most wicketkeeper-batters of his era.

Six-Hitting Records – Table (English)