7 batsmen who hit a SIX off their first ball in T20I Cricket

by Karthik Atchuta

When Suryakumar Yadav pulled Jofra Archer for a six over fine leg – he became the 7th batsman who hit a six off the first ball he faced in T20 Internationals. Out of the 7 batsmen who achieved this feat – 4 of them are from West Indies!

Here is the list of this exclusive club of batsmen:

SOHAIL TANVIR

Sohail Tanvir made his T20I debut on September 14, 2007 in a World T20 league match between India and Pakistan which ended in a bowl out – but Tanvir didn’t get to bat.

India v Pakistan T20I, Johannesburg – 2007

Tanvir didn’t get a chance to bat the whole tourney until the World T20 final against India. The left-handed batsman walked in to bat with his team 7 down for 104 with Misbah ul Haq taking charge of the chase.

The scorecard read as 123-7 in 17 overs when Tanvir got on strike against Indian pacer Sreesanth. Pakistan needed 35 more runs to win in 18 balls – as Tanvir picked a fullish outside off stump ball and smacked it for a SIX over long on boundary! Tanvir hit one more 6 in the same over before getting bowled the next ball. He scored 12 runs in 4 balls with the help of 2 sixes.

Tanvir became the first ever batsman to hit a SIX off the first delivery in his T20I career.

JEROME TAYLOR

Jerome Taylor made his T20I debut on 16 February 2006 but he got an opportunity to bat in January 2008.

South Africa v West Indies, Johannesburg – 2008

On January 18 2008, Jerome Taylor walked in to bat when West Indies were struggling at 101-7 in 17.4 overs. Makhaya Ntini bowled the first delivery to Taylor which was put over  the midwicket for a SIX! Taylor (7* in 5 balls) stuck around till the end with Daren Sammy to power West Indies to 131/7 in 20 overs.

XAVIER MARSHALL

The right handed West Indies batsman made his debut on June 20, 2008 against Australia at Bridgetown, Barbados.

West Indies v Australia, Bridgetown – 2008

Xavier Marshall walked in as an opener for West Indies in this rain shortened 11 overs per team match. Australia set West Indies a target of 98 runs to win in 11 overs.

Marshall faced the first ever delivery of West Indies innings bowled by Aussie pacer Brett Lee. Lee bowled a short delivery aimed at his body as Marshall instinctively went for a pull and deposited the ball in the stands!

Marshall is the first batsman in the list to score a SIX off the first ball of his team’s innings in his first ever batting innings!

Marshall scored 36 in 15 balls with the help of 3 fours and 3 sixes before Shane Watson ran him out. He is also the first batsman in this list to win the Man of the Match for his knock as West Indies chased the target in 9.1 overs!

KIERON POLLARD

Kieron Pollard didn’t get to bat on his T20I debut against Australia on 20 June, 2008 but he came in to bat at Eden Park, Auckland which witnessed the first ever Super Over in T20 Internationals

New Zealand v West Indies, Auckland – 2008

On December 26, 2008 – Boxing Day T20I – Pollard walked in to bat with his team at 114-4 when West Indies needed 42 more runs to win in 6 overs.

Jeetan Patel bowled the first ball to Kieron Pollard which was lifted over midwicket for a maximum by the big man! Pollard lasted only 4 balls scoring 7 runs in that match. West Indies eventually won the match in Super Over – thanks to Chris Gayle’s heroics (25 runs in 6 balls)

TINO BEST

Tino Best made his T20 International debut on 13 February, 2013 but he didn’t get a chance to bat until 28 July, 2013.

West Indies v Pakistan T20I, Kingston  – 2013

Best walked in to bat with West Indies 9 down and needing 31 runs to win in 9 balls. He charged down and smacked off-spinner Saeed Ajmal over the fielder on long off boundary! He remained unbeaten on 17 in 9 balls with the help of 2 sixes but that couldn’t help Windies cross the line as Pakistan clinched the match by 11 runs!

MANGALISO MOSEHLE

Proteas wicket keeper batsman Mangaliso Mosehle made his T20I cum International debut on January 20, 2017 against Sri Lanka.

South Africa v Sri Lanka, Centurion – 2017

This match was shortened to 10 overs per innings. Mosehle walked in to bat with South Africa already at 105-4 in 8.4 overs.

Nuwan Kulasekara bowled the first ball of the wicket keeper batsman’s International career which was muscled over the deep point boundary for a maximum. That was the only delivery Mosehle faced in this match as he was run out scoring 6 runs in 1 ball. South Africa (126/5) won the match by 19 runs.

SURYAKUMAR YADAV

The Mumbai batsman didn’t get to bat in his first stint in International cricket. He was recalled to replace Ishan Kishan in the must win match against England at Narendra Modi Stadium.

India v England, Ahmedabad – 2021

On March 18, 2021 – Suryakumar Yadav faced the first ball off his career from Jofra Archer who bowled a short delivery which was dispatched in to the stands over fine leg via a one legged calypso style pull shot!

Suryakumar Yadav scored 57 runs in 31 balls when he was given out off a controversial catch by Dawid Malan. India won the match by 8 runs and Suryakumar Yadav was adjudged the Man of the Match.