Abhishek Sharma struck a six off the very first ball he faced in the 1st T20I between New Zealand and India at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on October 22, 2026. Matt Henry bowled a fuller delivery well wide of off stump, and Abhishek committed immediately to a lofted drive over the cover region, clearing the boundary with ease.
The stroke carried significance well beyond its entertainment value. It took Abhishek to seven first-ball sixes in T20I cricket, placing him clear at the top of the all-time list for this particular record. No batter in the history of the format has cleared the ropes off the opening delivery of their innings as many times. Abhishek was opening the batting for India in a side captained by Shreyas Iyer.
Where does Abhishek Sharma stand in the all-time first-ball six list?
Abhishek’s tally of seven first-ball sixes in T20Is puts him one ahead of Afghanistan’s Shafiqullah Shinwari, who has achieved the feat six times. India‘s Suryakumar Yadav occupies third position on the list with five such instances, two behind Shinwari and three behind Abhishek.
The record reflects a consistent pattern of aggression from the left-handed opener. Across his T20I appearances, Abhishek has repeatedly looked to attack from the very first delivery he faces, regardless of the bowling attack or match conditions. Reaching seven instances ahead of two accomplished T20I batters underlines how distinctive that approach has been. Shinwari is a recognised big-hitter in Afghanistan’s limited-overs setup, and Suryakumar Yadav is widely regarded as one of the most destructive T20I batters of his generation, which makes Abhishek’s outright lead at the top of this list all the more notable.
How did Abhishek Sharma hit the record-breaking six off Matt Henry?
Henry is an experienced New Zealand seamer, and his opening delivery gave Abhishek the opportunity to free his arms. The ball was full and well wide of off stump, and Abhishek read the length and width quickly enough to play the lofted drive without hesitation. The cover region at Hagley Oval offered no protection against a cleanly struck aerial shot, and Abhishek’s execution was precise from the moment he picked up the line.
Executing that shot off the very first ball of an innings demands precise timing and full commitment to the stroke. There is no margin to adjust once the decision is made, and Abhishek cleared the boundary at Hagley Oval without difficulty. The six on October 22, 2026 was the seventh time he has achieved the feat in T20I cricket, a number that now stands as the outright record in the format. It is a mark that speaks to both his intent at the top of the order and his ability to back that intent with clean ball-striking from the very first moment he steps to the crease.
