Niki Prasad, Virat Kohli (Source: X/@BCCIWomen & AFP)
Taking a wicket on the very first delivery of T20I bowling career is a rare achievement. 21-year-old Niki Prasad created history on October 18, 2026, when she dismissed Zimbabwe's Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano with her 1st ball in international cricket as a bowler during the second T20I in Raipur.
With this memorable feat, the young Indian all-rounder joined an exclusive list featuring Ajit Agarkar, Pragyan Ojha and Virat Kohli. While Agarkar and Ojha achieved the feat in their T20I debuts, Kohli’s memorable dismissal came when he bowled for the first time in the format in 2011.
In this article, let's take a look at the four Indian players who have taken a wicket with the first ball of their T20I bowling careers.
1. Ajit Agarkar
Ajit Agarkar became the first Indian to take a wicket with the first ball of his T20I bowling career during India’s only T20I against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on December 1, 2006.
Agarkar dismissed Herschelle Gibbs, who scored seven runs off seven deliveries, with the batter caught by Suresh Raina. He finished with figures of 2/10 in 2.3 overs, also dismissing AB de Villiers. India eventually chased down South Africa’s 126/9 to win by six wickets.
2. Pragyan Ojha
Pragyan Ojha made his T20I debut against Bangladesh during the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on June 6. The left-arm spinner made an immediate impact, dismissing Shakib Al Hasan with his very first delivery in the format.
Shakib was stumped by wicketkeeper MS Dhoni, giving Ojha an impressive start to his international career.
Ojha went on to claim four wickets for 21 runs in four overs, also dismissing Junaid Siddique, Mahmudullah and Mashrafe Mortaza. India won the match by 25 runs, and Ojha was named Player of the Match.
3. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli achieved this unusual feat during India’s only T20I against England in Manchester on August 31, 2011. Although he had made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe in 2010, the dismissal came when he bowled for the first time in the format.
Interestingly, Kohli’s first delivery was a wide down the leg side. Kevin Pietersen advanced down the pitch and missed the ball, allowing Dhoni to stump him.
Since the delivery was a wide, it did not count as a legal ball, making Kohli’s wicket technically one taken before he had bowled a legal delivery in T20Is.
4. Niki Prasad
Niki Prasad made history during the second T20I against Zimbabwe in Raipur on October 18, 2026. The young Indian all-rounder had made her T20I debut two days earlier but did not get an opportunity to bowl in that match.
Introduced into the attack in the 15th over, Prasad dismissed Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano, who had scored 34 off 32 balls, with her first delivery.
She then trapped Nyasha Gwanzura lbw with her next ball, creating a rare record of taking wickets off the first two balls of her T20I bowling career. Prasad finished with figures of 2/7 in two overs as India won by nine wickets.
