IND vs SA 3rd T20I: Abhishek Sharma continued his remarkable rise in international cricket by achieving a one-of-a-kind milestone on Sunday, December 14,
during the third T20I between India and South Africa at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.
The aggressive opener became the first batter in the world to smash a six off the very first delivery of his team's innings on three separate occasions, underlining his fearless approach at the top of the order.
The latest chapter of this unique record unfolded when Abhishek faced South Africa pacer Lungi Ngidi to start India's innings. Without any hesitation, the left-hander launched the opening delivery for a maximum, immediately setting the tone for the hosts. Notably, all three instances of this feat have come in 2025, making it an unprecedented year for the young batter.
Abhishek's first such explosive start came during India's Asia Cup clash against the UAE in Dubai on September 10, where he announced his intent by clearing the ropes on ball one. He repeated the act less than two weeks later in a high-pressure Asia Cup Super 4 encounter against Pakistan, taking on Shaheen Shah Afridi with a towering six to open India's innings on September 21. The Dharamsala hit against Ngidi completed an extraordinary hat-trick of first-ball sixes.
Before Abhishek's exploits, only a handful of Indian batters had managed to start an innings with a maximum. Rohit Sharma was the pioneer, achieving the feat against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad in March 2021. Yashasvi Jaiswal later joined the list during India's T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare in July 2024, while Sanju Samson added his name earlier this year, hitting a six on the first ball of India's innings on February 2, 2025.
Abhishek's achievement stands apart not only because of its rarity but also due to its consistency. Pulling off such a high-risk shot repeatedly highlights his confidence and intent in the shortest format. As India continue to embrace an aggressive brand of T20 cricket, Abhishek Sharma's fearless starts are fast becoming a defining feature of the team's approach at the top.
