Abhishek Sharma Joins Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs (Source: AFP)
Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs and Abhishek Sharma created a rare batting feat in the India vs New Zealand first T20I at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 22, 2026.
All the three batters, Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand), Bevon Jacobs (New Zealand) and Abhishek Sharma (India), hit a six off the first ball they faced in the match.
With this feat, the three players equalled the record for the most batters to hit a six off their first delivery in a single Men’s T20I match.
Abhishek Sharma Creates History Alongside Daryl Mitchell And Bevon Jacobs
Daryl Mitchell and Bevon Jacobs gave New Zealand a strong start with their aggressive batting. Both players sent the ball over the boundary on the very first delivery they faced.
Jacobs made a quick impact with his powerful hitting and scored 31 runs off just 16 balls. He struck a huge six off Arshdeep Singh on the first ball he faced in the match. On the other hand, Daryl Mitchell struck a six on the first ball he faced from Axar Patel.
It is worth noting that the the stylish batter also became the second New Zealand No. 3 batter to hit a six off the first ball faced in a T20I.
Abhishek Sharma matched the New Zealand batters during India’s chase. Facing Matt Henry on the final delivery of the opening over, Abhishek Sharma played an inside-out shot over deep extra cover for a six.
TRIVIA: Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs and Abhishek Sharma all hit a six off the first ball they faced tonight, equalling the record for the most such instances in a Men’s T20I, alongside four others.
Of the previous four instances, only one featured Full Members: New Zealand vs England at Hamilton in 2018, when Liam Dawson, Chris Jordan and Colin Munro achieved the feat.
Abhishek Sharma Breaks Individual T20I World Record
Abhishek Sharma also set a major record, taking his career tally of sixes hit off the first ball faced in T20I cricket to seven and becoming the record holder in this category.
Most sixes hit off the first ball faced in T20Is
- 7 - Abhishek Sharma (India)*
- 6 - Samiullah Shinwari (Afghanistan)
- 5 - Suryakumar Yadav (India)
- 4 - Paul Stirling (Ireland), Colin Munro (New Zealand), Mohammad Naveed (UAE)
He moved ahead of Afghanistan’s Samiullah Shinwari, who had previously held the record with six such sixes.
