Ganesh Kendale
NEW DELHI: India achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first team in the 147-year history of Test cricket to hit 100 sixes in a calendar year.
The Rohit Sharma-led side reached this feat on the third day of the first Test match against New Zealand in Bengaluru on Friday, surpassing England’s record of 89 sixes in 2022.
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Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill have been the top contributors, with 29 and 16 sixes respectively.
Teams to hit most Test sixes in a year
102* – India (2024)
89 – England (2022)
87 – India (2021)
81 – New Zealand (2014)
71 – New Zealand (2013)
(*68 sixes by England currently – the second most by a team this year in 2024)
Despite facing a daunting deficit of 356 runs, India mounted a spirited fightback in their second innings, reaching 231 for three at stumps on Day 3.
Virat Kohli, who completed 9,000 Test runs during his knock, scored 70 before falling to Glenn Phillips off the last ball of the day.
Rohit Sharma (52) and Sarfaraz Khan (70 not out) also contributed with fluent half-centuries, reducing the deficit to a more manageable 125 runs.
New Zealand’s imposing total of 402 was largely due to a crucial 134-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Rachin Ravindra (134) and Tim Southee (63).
India now face an uphill task to stage a comeback, with their largest successful run chase in Test cricket being 274 against Australia in the memorable Kolkata Test of 2001.
