Stats: Hardik Pandya records the most runs in an over by an Indian in Test cricket

Hardik Pandya set new records in Indian Test history during the ongoing 3rd Test match against Sri Lanka played at Pallekele. Pandya scored a brilliant century in the morning session on day 2 to take India towards a big total, batting along with the tail-enders. The all-rounder took on the left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara by hitting him for 26 runs in an over.

In the 116th over of innings, Pandya hit Pushpakumara for boundaries through midwicket and long-off respectively in the first two balls. Later he struck a six by clearing the long-off fielder which prompted the Sri Lankan captain by increasing fielders at the boundary line. However, the tactic didn’t stop Pandya from going big as he launched a huge six straight down the ground and followed it with another biggie over long-off to make 26 runs in the over of 5 balls. However, Pandya couldn’t accumulate any runs on the final ball.

His tally of 26 runs in an over is the most by an Indian in a single over in Test cricket. Previously two Indians scored 24 runs in an over. Pandya also became only the 3rd Indian to hit sixes off 3 consecutive balls in Test cricket. Kapil Dev hit 4 in a row against England in 1990 while MS Dhoni hit 3 sixes in 3 balls vs Windies in 2006.

Most runs by Indians in an over in Test cricket:

Pandya’s tally of 26 not only stands at the top of Indian list as the 24-year-old is now jointly at 3rd in the overall list of most runs scored in an over in Tests. Only three players have scored more than 26 runs in an over in this format.

Most runs scored by a player in an over in Test cricket:

(Stats as on August 13, 2017)