Rishabh Pant created history during India's first Test match against Sri Lanka at Galle as he became the first-ever Indian and the fourth batter overall to achieve the remarkable feat of hitting a century of sixes in Test cricket.

Pant cleared the boundary 15 times while remaining not out on 66 from 69 balls as he continued to display his attacking style of play, which has seen him score the fastest Test fifty and century in India's history.

The India wicket-keeper scored eight fours and two sixes while hitting at a strike rate of over 95 per cent.

Rishabh Pant improved his own record of fastest Test century by scoring 66 in 69 balls during the first Test against Sri Lanka.

He hit two sixes and eight fours before falling to the second new ball as India posted 322 for six in reply to Sri Lanka's 268 for nine.

Rishabh Pant Reaches 100 Sixes Faster Than Anyone Else

Rishabh Pant scored his century in just 4918 deliveries, which makes him the quickest to reach 100 sixes in the history of tests in terms of balls faced. Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist retained the record for the most sixes in test cricket, with 6578 deliveries faced before hitting 100 sixes.

Rishabh Pant has also achieved the best strike rate of any batsman who has hit at least a hundred sixes in test cricket, with one every 49.2 balls.

The Indian opener is placed third on the all-time list of batsmen with the most sixes in test cricket. England's Ben Stokes is at the top of the list with 138 sixes while Brendon McCullum of New Zealand has 107 sixes. Pant and Adam Gilchrist share the second spot with 100 sixes each

However, Rishabh Pant's quest for a Test century was cut short as he was bowled out for 66. The right-handed opening batter has so far scored 186 runs in three innings in two Tests this year at a strike rate of 73.80 with a high score of 81.

His last Test century came in the form of two hundreds in the recent series against England at Leeds.

India Extend Lead As Sri Lanka Fight Back

India were able to extend their lead in Galle as Sri Lanka failed to capitalize on their second-innings efforts. India reached 116/4 in their second innings after the lunch break on day four, with Pant scoring an unbeaten 21 and Dhruv Jurel 5. Thus, India's overall lead increased to 294 runs at the break.

India's first-innings lead of 178 runs proved to be decisive as the hosts posted a big total of 462 before bowling out Sri Lanka for 284 runs.

Sri Lanka's efforts were led by Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella, who formed a vital fifth-wicket stand of 146 for the tourists. They both scored big runs and threatened to reduce India's lead.

However, Prasidh Krishna removed Niroshan Dickwella for 80 in the 62nd over to end their stand. Dinusha then survived a stunning catch by Jadeja to complete his century. However, with Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja on the crease, Sri Lanka failed to make any further inroads, as they were all out for 348 with Suthar and Jadeja claiming four and three wickets each.

Thus, with India batting a second time, they were in firm control with a huge lead, and Sri Lanka had little hope left in the final session.