Cricket history was rewritten on Sunday as Meghalaya’s Akash Kumar Choudhary delivered a record-breaking performance in the Ranji Trophy Plate Group clash against Arunachal Pradesh.
The 25-year-old cricketer became the first-ever player in first-class cricket to hit eight consecutive sixes, while also notching up the fastest fifty in the format’s history — reaching the milestone in just 11 balls.
A Historic Power-Hitting Display
Batting at No. 8, Akash began his innings with a couple of singles before launching an incredible assault on Arunachal’s bowlers. In the 126th over, bowled by left-arm spinner Limar Dabi, he smashed six sixes in succession and followed it up with two more maximums in the next over — a feat that stunned players and spectators alike.
His unbeaten 50 off just 14 balls powered Meghalaya to an imposing 628/6 declared in their first innings, rewriting the Ranji Trophy record books.
Joining an Elite Club
With this extraordinary performance, Akash joined an exclusive list of cricketing legends — Sir Garfield Sobers (1968) and Ravi Shastri (1985) — who remain the only other players to have hit six sixes in an over in first-class cricket. Akash, however, went one better with eight in a row, cementing his place in the annals of Indian domestic cricket.
A Rising Star from the Northeast
Supported by stellar centuries from Arpit Bhatewara (204), Kishan Lyngdoh (119), and Rahul Dalal (144), Akash’s explosive knock propelled Meghalaya to a commanding position in the match. His fearless stroke play and calm temperament under pressure have drawn admiration from fans and experts, signalling the rise of a new power-hitter from India’s Northeast.
This landmark achievement not only celebrates Akash’s personal brilliance but also underscores the growing cricketing potential emerging from smaller states across India.
