During the fifth and final match of the five-game ODI series between India and New Zealand at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, tailender Arshdeep Singh produced an electrifying cameo that added cheer to an otherwise grim batting display. After losing the toss and being put in to bat first, the Indian batting order suffered a widespread collapse, ultimately being bowled out for 209 runs in 42.1 overs. None of the mainstream Indian top order batters managed to register a half-century on the day. With India reeling at 183 for 9, Arshdeep Singh walked out to the crease at number eleven and delivered an immediate counterpunch by launching his very first ball over the boundary ropes.
Joining an exclusive club of first ball six hitters
Facing New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy on his very first delivery, Arshdeep swung cleanly and deposited the ball into the stands for a maximum. With that audacious strike, Arshdeep became only the third Indian cricketer in the entire history of one-day internationals to smash a six off the very first ball faced while batting in the number eleven position.
The first Indian to achieve this rare feat was former speedster Venkatesh Prasad back in the year 2000. During the Champions Trophy quarter-final encounter against Australia in Nairobi, Prasad dispatched bowler Ian Harvey for a six off his first delivery. Nineteen years later, in 2019, Jasprit Bumrah repeated the feat at Mohali against Australia when he hooked world-class seamer Pat Cummins over the ropes on his opening ball. In 2026, Arshdeep Singh inscribed his name right alongside those two premier Indian fast bowlers.
Indians with a first ball six at number eleven in ODIs
- Venkatesh Prasad: Against Australia in Nairobi during the 2000 Champions Trophy quarter-final, hitting Ian Harvey.
- Jasprit Bumrah: Against Australia in Mohali during the 2019 bilateral series, clearing Pat Cummins.
- Arshdeep Singh: Against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui during the fifth ODI in 2026, lofting Jacob Duffy.
Matching the six-hitting record of Mohammed Shami and Venkatesh Prasad
Arshdeep did not stop at his opening blow. His whirlwind cameo at the Bay Oval lasted just 4 deliveries, but he managed to score a quickfire 14 runs before India's innings concluded. That short knock featured a total of two towering sixes. By striking twice over the fence from the final batting slot, Arshdeep equalled the Indian national record for the most sixes hit by a number eleven batter in a single ODI innings.
Prior to Arshdeep, only two Indian players had ever smashed two sixes in an innings from the number eleven spot. Venkatesh Prasad achieved it first in 1996 during a match against Pakistan held in Toronto. Eighteen years later, in 2014, Mohammed Shami replicated that batting exploit against Sri Lanka at Fatullah. Arshdeep has now tied both bowling predecessors, completing an eventful finish to India's innings.
