Hardik Pandya smashes Malinda Pushpakumara for 26 runs in an over

We have seen 36 runs in an over in T20I format, courtesy Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. Former South African opener Gibbs’ boundaries-filled over is still fresh in our memories. But when was the last time a batsman scored 26 runs in a single over in Test cricket? Had anyone asked this question to any cricket enthusiast before today, the answer would have taken much time to come.

But if anyone asks it now, the immediate answer will be today (Sunday), when Hardik Pandya achieved the feat by smashing Malinda Puhspakumara all over the park. It was the 116th over of the Indian innings when Pandya was batting with Umesh Yadav and India were sitting comfortably at 430-9. Pandya launched the assault on the spinner from the very first ball when the slogged the ball into the cow corner for a boundary.

For the second ball, he came down the track and smashed the ball past the bowler before he could outstretch his hands. Two different shots fetched the same result. For the third delivery, Pandya decided to deliver it to sightscreen, thereby creating a new record of maximum sixes in a Test series in Sri Lanka. The fourth ball followed the similar direction as the sightscreen was already much affected by the demolition.

The fifth ball was when a new record was created. Pandya again went down the track, Pushpakumara again offered some flight, the ball went straight back and fetched maximum runs. Pandya thereby scored 26 runs in an over and became the Indian to score the most number of runs in an over in Test cricket.

Virat Kohli was enjoying the moment with teammates as laughs and giggles flooded in the Indian camp. No such treatment was offered by Hardik in the last ball, but Pushpakumara already had enough. Pandya scored 108 runs in just 96 balls.

Relive the extraordinary Pandya assault here: