Indian batters have showcased an impressive six-hitting record in the history of test cricket, etching their names among the big hitters around the world. It represents not just power, but a fearless approach in the longest format.

Some of India's most celebrated cricketers have taken this record for most sixes in tests to another level, having smashed an unparalleled number of sixes. Focusing on the current standings, Rishabh Pant is the one name growing rapidly to the top, surpassing Dhoni's record.

Find out who hit the most sixes for India in tests, and how close Pant is to claiming the top spot.

Read Also: Most sixes in a Test innings

Most sixes for India in Tests

1. Virender Sehwag | 90 sixes

The former Indian cricketer, Virender Sehwag, has hit the most sixes for India in tests. His six-hitting approach was defined by a dominant mindset, where he would take on a bowler in the very first over if he wanted.

Sehwag smashed 90 sixes for India in test format, spanning from 2001 to 2013. This came across 103 test matches (178 innings) and has been unmatched over a decade.

2. Rishabh Pant | 88 sixes

Rishabh Pant has rapidly climbed up in the elite list of six-hitters, recently levelling up Rohit Sharma's numbers with 88 sixes in tests. He also became the player with most sixes (36 sixes) against England in tests, surpassing Viv Richards' record.

Pant's immense power and confidence in the format is really exciting to watch. He is only 3 big hits away from surpassing Sehwag and becoming the player with most sixes for India in tests.

He reached to this spot in just 46 matches (80 innings), which shows how he is capable of taking this record to the highest level with his one-handed flicks, aggressive sweeps, and powerful pulls.

Read Also: Indian players to record two hundreds in a Test match

3. Rohit Sharma | 88 sixes

Rohit Sharma put an end to his test career with an astounding 88 sixes for India in 67 matches (116 innings). From his test debut as a middle-order batsman to transitioning into one of the best test openers for India, he kept his big-hitting prowess alive throughout.

Sharma's ability to read lengths early and deliver the ball effortlessly to the stands was phenomenal. Given that he holds the record for the most international sixes across all formats, his position within his nation's top 5 in Test cricket is certainly not a surprise.

Read Also: Who can break Rohit’s six-hitting record?

4. MS Dhoni | 78 sixes

MS Dhoni holds the 4th spot for most sixes for India in tests, having 78 sixes across 90 matches (144 innings). Renowned for his "helicopter shot," which delivered the ball soaring over long-on or mid-wicket, his strength lay in his powerful forearms and lower body.

Dhoni often converted decent deliveries into maximums, in order to shift the pressure at crucial times for India.

5. Ravindra Jadeja | 73 sixes

Being the only all-rounder in the list of most sixes for India in tests, Ravindra Jadeja, with 73 sixes to his name, needs to be given the appreciation he truly deserves. He achieved those numbers in only 83 matches (123 innings).

Jadeja is the second player, after Pant, to have an ongoing test career among the Top 5, which indicates his potential to surpass Dhoni's record. Considering his current pace, the day he breaks records and climbs higher on the list doesn't seem far off.

Read Also: Latest ICC Test player rankings update: Featuring new No.1 and Shubman Gill's historic Top 10 debut

Most Sixes for India in Tests (Top 20)

The Indian cricket team is gearing up for a crucial three-match ODI series against South Africa, starting November 30, 2025. The white-ball leg brings massive excitement as the iconic duo Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli make their much-awaited comeback to the ODI setup after a break. With regular opener Shubman Gill ruled out due to a neck injury, KL Rahul has been handed the responsibility to captain the Men in Blue.

Following a disappointing Test whitewash earlier in the tour, India will be determined to bounce back and assert dominance against a side they recently overcame in the dramatic ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2025 final.

So, before the India vs South Africa ODI series to begin, let's take a look at the top 5 batters with the most runs in India vs South Africa ODIs.

Also Read: Result of every India vs South Africa ODI series

Most Runs in India vs South Africa ODIs | Top 5 List

1. Sachin Tendulkar | 2001 Runs

Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for most runs in ODIs between India vs South Africa. He scored 2001 runs in 57 matches against the Proteas, the only one with over 2,000 runs in this storied rivalry, averaging 35.73. During this period, Sachin scored five centuries and eight half-centuries, including an unbeaten 200-run innings. He was a part of India vs South Africa rivalry from 1991 to 2011, scoring 1453 runs in South Africa alone.

2. Jacques Kallis | 1535 Runs

Jacques Kallis is South Africa's leading run-scorer against India. In 34 innings, Kallis scored 1535 runs, including two centuries and 11 half-centuries. Kallis played his last ODI against India in 2013. Out of the 17 hundreds he scored in ODI cricket, Jacques Kallis got two of them against India. To sum up, Kallis remains South Africa’s most productive ODI batter against India even since a decade of his retirement from the game.

3. Virat Kohli | 1504 Runs

Indian run-machine Virat Kohli's bat always speaks against South Africa. In 29 innings, Virat has scored 1504 runs against South Africa, averaging over 65, the highest among all India vs South Africa ODI players with more than 300 runs to their names. He has scored five centuries and eight half-centuries against South Africa. Kohli made 558 of his 1504 in a single away series against South Africa back in 2018, where his three match-winning hundreds engineered India’s 5-1 series win. Moreover, Kohli’s 558-run tally from that tour remains the highest aggregate by any batter in a single bilateral series by a landslide.

4. Gary Kirsten | 1377 Runs

Former South African opener Gary Kirsten has served as the head coach of the Indian team, lifting the 2011 World Cup. He has played 26 ODIs against India between the years 1995 to 2001, scoring 1,377 runs at an average of 62.59. He scored nine half-centuries and four centuries. His highest score against India was 133* which came in Johannesburg back in October 2001 in the opening match of the 2001 South Africa ODI tri-series.

Also Read: India under Gautam Gambhir coaching

5. AB de Villiers | 1357 Runs

In 32 matches, AB de Villiers scored 1357 runs against India at an average of 48.46. De Villiers also holds the record for most sixes in ODIs between the two teams, with 41. Among all players in India vs South Africa ODI matches, no batter has scored his runs even remotely close to the strike rate of 111.13. He got six hundreds against India, including three in a single series from 2015, where he scored 358 runs at an average of 89.50.

After a disappointing 2-0 clean sweep defeat against South Africa, Team India is all set to begin their three-match ODI series against the Proteas beginning on November 30. The series comes at a time when India are dealing with key injury setbacks at the top of their white-ball setup. 

Newly appointed ODI captain Shubman Gill, who was slated to lead the side for the first time in the format, has been ruled out after injuring his neck during the first Test in Kolkata. Vice-captain Shreyas Iyer also continues his recovery from the injury he suffered on India’s tour of Australia, leaving the leadership group temporarily depleted. In their absence, the responsibility of leading the team returns to KL Rahul, who last captained India in the 2023 ODI series against South Africa, a contest India won 2–1. 

So, before the India vs South Africa ODI series to begin, let's take a look at the result of every ODI series between India and South Africa.

Also Read: India under Gautam Gambhir coaching

India vs South Africa: Head-to-head stats in ODIs

The ODI format has been very competitive between these two teams. South Africa has been stronger in one-day cricket with more wins overall. Both teams have played exciting cricket in World Cups and bilateral series. South Africa is known for their strong ODI team, while India has also had great success in this format.

Out of 94 matches total, South Africa has won 51, while India has won 40 matches. This shows South Africa’s edge in ODI cricket.

India vs South Africa: Last encounter in ODI

The last encounter between India and South Africa in an ODI was during the three-match ODI series in 2023 in Paarl, South Africa.

Sanju Samson hit a fine century as India defeated South Africa by 78 runs in the third ODI to clinch the series. Sent into bat, India lost both the openers early before Samson (108 off 114 balls), which was his maiden ODI hundred, and Tilak Varma (52 off 77 balls) made useful contributions to take 296 for eight. Rinku Singh (38 off 27) also chipped in for the visitors.

Chasing 297, opener Tony de Zorzi made 81 off 87 balls but none of the other Proteas batter could support him as the hosts were bowled for 218 in 45.5 overs. For India, Arshdeep Singh (4/30), Washington Sundar (2/38) and Avesh Khan (2/45) were the main wicket takers.

Also Read: Every India vs South Africa Test Series Results

India vs South Africa: Full Series Results

After winning the T20 World Cup last year, in July, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) appointed Gautam Gambhir as the head coach of the Indian team in place of Rahul Dravid. Since then India have won seven Tests, lost 10 and drawn two under Gautam Gambhir coaching. Again all focus has shifted to him once again after the team's embarrassing defeat in the second Test by 408 runs under his coaching as South Africa completed a 2-0 clean sweep at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday. India were bowled out for 140 runs in their second innings while chasing the 548-run target. After this, India endured its second home Test series defeat under head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Also Read: Rishabh Pant vs MS Dhoni: Comparison in Test cricket

Fifth Test defeat at home in the last nine games

The team is in bad shape under Gambhir's coaching as India is going through a challenging transition phase, this was their fifth Test defeat at home in the last nine games. Under Gambhir, India witnessed a new low last year when they lost a Test series for the first time in 12 years after New Zealand thrashed them 3-0. The defeat was also first for India at home under new skipper Shubman Gill, who took over the captaincy role following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.

India lost to Sri Lanka after 18 years

Last year, in July-August, the Indian team went on a tour of Sri Lanka. This was India's first series after Gautam Gambhir became the coach. After winning the T20 World Cup, India's youth team had reached Sri Lanka.

India then had to face 0-2 defeat in the ODI series. After 18 years, the Indian team had lost to Sri Lanka in a bilateral series.

Embarrassing defeat in front of New Zealand

When the New Zealand came to India last year, everyone must have felt in the beginning that by winning this series easily, we will present a strong claim for the World Test Championship final.

On the contrary, India lost 0-3 in this series. This was the first time since 2012 that India lost a Test series at home. New Zealand not only defeated India but also whitewashed them.

Also Read: Most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket by an Indian bowler

Lost Border Gavaskar Trophy after 10 years

Team India had been winning the Border Gavaskar Trophy continuously for the last 10 years. They defeated the Kangaroos in four consecutive series. During this period, Australia was defeated twice at their own home. India also got the good fortune of defeating Australia in Gabba after almost 30 years.

Now this victory chariot of India has broken under the coaching of Gautam Gambhir. The last time Australia won the Test series against India was in the year 2014-15.

Let's take a look at India's result under Gautam Gambhir's coaching.

India's T20I record under Gautam Gambhir coaching

Matches: 26, Won: 20, Lost: 3, NR: 3

• Sri Lanka vs India (3 T20Is): India won 2-0
• India vs Bangladesh (3 T20Is): India won by 3-0
• South Africa vs India (4 T20Is): India won by 3-1
• India vs England (5 T20Is): India won by 4-1
• Asia Cup 2025 (6 T20Is): India won Asia Cup by beating Pakistan in the final
• Australia vs India (5 T20Is): India won 2-1

India's ODI record under Gautam Gambhir coaching

Matches: 14, Won: 9, Lost: 4, NR: 1

• Sri Lanka vs India (3 ODIs): India lost 0-2
• India vs England (3 ODIs): India won 3-0
• ICC Champions Trophy 2025 (5 ODIs): India won CT 2025 by beating New Zealand in the final
• Australia vs India (3 ODIs): India lost 1-2

India's Test record under Gautam Gambhir coaching

Matches: 18, Won: 7, Lost: 9, NR: 2

• India vs Bangladesh (2 Tests): India won 2-0
• India vs New Zealand (3 Tests): India lost 0-3
• Australia vs India (5 Tests): India lost 1-3
• England vs India (5 Tests): Series Drawn by 2-2
• India vs West Indies (2 Tests): India won 2-0
• India vs South Africa (2 Tests): India lost 0-2

There have been very few wicketkeepers in the Indian Test team who have also made a significant impact with the bat. Legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rishabh Pant have played the role of wicketkeeper-batsman adeptly in Test cricket, leading to frequent comparisons between the two. Now, the debate has once again begun as to who is the better in Test cricket between Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rishabh Pant. Here’s a comparison of Rishabh Pant vs MS Dhoni in the longest format of the game.

Also Read: Most Sixes in Test Cricket

Rishabh Pant vs MS Dhoni | Test Record

Rishabh Pant has better records than MS Dhoni in Test cricket. Pant has played 48 matches, scoring 3456 runs at an average of 43.74. Dhoni scored 4,876 runs in 90 matches at an average of 38.09. Dhoni had six centuries in Test cricket while Pant now has 8.

Rishabh Pant vs MS Dhoni | Wicketkeeping Record in Test

Both Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni, apart from being exceptional batters for team India, have been just as impressive behind the stumps as well. After 90 Test matches, MS Dhoni had a total of 294 dismissals, where he did 38 stumpings and took 256 catches behind the stumps. On the other hand, Rishabh Pant, after 48 Tests has a total of 244 dismissals to his name that includes 15 stumpings and 158 catches as wicket keeper.

Also Read: Most Hundreds in Test cricket among active players

Dhoni's stature in Indian cricket goes well beyond his contributions behind the stumps or with the bat. He led India to victory in the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy and was captain when the team first rose to the No.1 spot in the Test rankings in 2008. When asked about the comparisons, Pant made it clear that he is only concentrating on his own game.

In Test cricket, big scores and heroic partnerships often make the headlines. But the sport also has days when everything goes wrong for a batting side. For India, a team known for world-class batters across generations, there have still been several occasions where the batting lineup collapsed unexpectedly.

This article looks at the top six lowest Test totals in India’s history, including the recent 93 all out against South Africa, explaining when it happened, where it happened, and how the innings unfolded.

6. 93 all out vs South Africa (Kolkata, 2025)

India’s most recent entry in the list came in 2025 at Eden Garden in Kolkata, where they were bowled out for 93 runs against South Africa. This innings marked their sixth-lowest total in Test history.

The Eden Gardens pitch had some early moisture, which helped the South African fast bowlers get swing and seam straight away. They used the conditions very well, bowled in the right areas, and kept the Indian batters under pressure from the first session.

Wickets kept falling regularly, and India struggled to build even small partnerships. Although the middle order tried to steady the innings, the team still could not reach the 100-run mark. South African spinner Simon Harmer played the biggest role in India’s collapse, grabbing 4 for 21 in the second innings and finishing the match with an impressive eight-wicket haul.

5. 66 all out vs South Africa (Durban, 1996)

India’s first tour of South Africa after the Proteas’ return to international cricket was a tough challenge. At Kingsmead, Durban, India faced a world-class South African pace attack featuring Allan Donald, Shaun Pollock, Brian McMillan and Lance Klusener.

On a green, lively pitch, India were bowled out for just 66 runs in their first innings. Rahul Dravid, playing his early years of Test cricket, top-scored with 27. Apart from him, no batter looked comfortable. Donald took 5/40 and caused major trouble with his speed and bounce. India went on to lose the Test by 328 runs.

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4. 58 all out vs England (Manchester, 1952)

India again suffered a 58-run innings, this time against England at Old Trafford. The English pacers, especially Fred Trueman, produced a fiery spell on a damp pitch. Trueman took 8 wickets and gave 31 runs in the match.

India lost wickets quickly during a morning session filled with seam movement and swing. As a result, they were bowled out in 21.4 overs, matching their Brisbane score. England comfortably won the Test and the series.

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3. 58 all out vs Australia (Brisbane, 1947)

In the early years after becoming a Test-playing nation, India found it tough to perform well in overseas conditions. A clear example is the 1947 Test in Brisbane against Australia. Facing a powerful bowling attack led by Ernie Toshack and Ray Lindwall, India were dismissed for just 58 runs in their first innings.

Conditions were tough, with pace and bounce troubling the Indian batters. Only Chandu Sarwate, Vijay Hazare and Lala Amarnath reached double digits. Australia went on to dominate the match and win easily.

2. 42 all out vs England (Lord’s, 1974)

India’s second-lowest total came nearly five decades ago during the famous (or infamous) “Summer of 42”. India were playing the second Test of the 1974 tour at Lord’s, where they struggled badly and were eventually defeated by an innings and 285 runs, suffering one of their heaviest losses in Test history. But the innings fell apart quickly due to the swing and seam bowling of Chris Old and Geoff Arnold.

India were bowled out for 42 in just 17 overs. Only Eknath Solkar, with 18 runs, showed some resistance. The collapse led to a massive innings defeat, and the match became a historic low point for Indian Test cricket at the time.

1. 36 all out vs Australia (Adelaide, 2020)

India’s lowest Test total ever came during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, in the third inning of the first Test at Adelaide Oval. After taking a strong first-innings lead, India entered Day 3 with confidence. But what followed was one of the most shocking batting collapses in cricket history.

Australia’s pace trio, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc, bowled with perfect accuracy and movement. India collapsed from 15/2 to 36 all out in just 21.2 overs. No Indian batter reached double digits; Mayank Agarwal’s 9 was the highest score.

This innings changed the course of the series and remains a reminder of how tough red-ball cricket can be in helpful conditions.