Published By: Saksham Mishra

Hitting a six off the first ball of a T20I

Given that there have been hundreds of T20 Internationals played, it is interesting to note that only seven batsmen have hit the first ball of a T20I for a six. Kamran Akmal 

Kamran Akmal has been one of the most successful wicketkeeper batsmen for Pakistan. He represented the country between 2002 and 2017. From 158 T20 Internationals, he has scored 987 runs at an average of 21 and a strike rate of 119.63 with the best of 73.

Akmal has struck five half centuries with the help of 31 sixes. He became the first batsman to hit the first ball of a T20 International for a six.

Karim Sadiq Karim Sadiq represented Afghanistan between 2009 and 2018. He played 36 T20 Internationals and scored 538 runs at an average of 14.94 and a strike rate of 19.12 apart from picking up 14 wickets at an economy rate of 6.8.

Sadiq struck the first ball of a T20 International for a six to get himself a mention in cricket's record books.

Dwayne Smith (twice) Dwayne Smith is the only batsman in the history of T20I cricket to achieve the feat of striking the first ball for a six on two occasions. The West Indian all-rounder was active in international cricket between 2003 and 2015. He scored 582 runs from 33 T20 Internationals with the best of 72 and had an average of 18 and a strike rate of 122.

However, he was vastly successful in domestic T20 cricket, scoring 7870 runs from 337 matches at an average of 26.23 and a strike rate of 127.42.

Martin Guptill New Zealand's Martin Guptill made his T20I debut in 2009 and has scored 2939 runs from 102 matches at an average of 32.99 and a strike rate of 136.82. He has hit 47 sixes in the format - the most by any batsman.

With 256 boundaries, Guptill has also scored two centuries, with the best of 105, and 17 half centuries in his T20 International career.

Colin Munro Another New Zealand batsman Colin Munro has also had a very successful run in this format. He has scored 1724 runs from 65 matches at an average of 31.34 and a strike rate of 156.44. Munro has also struck 3 centuries and 11 half centuries with the best of 109 not out.

HazratullahZazai and Rohit Sharma have also hit the first ball of a T20 International for a six.