Meghalaya cricketer Akash Choudhary made sporting history on Sunday, November 9, by smashing six consecutive sixes in an over during the Ranji Trophy clash against Arunachal Pradesh. The 25-year-old not only joined an elite group of players to achieve this rare feat but also broke the record for the fastest half-century in first-class cricket, reaching his 50 in just 11 balls.
With this astonishing display, Akash became the third cricketer in first-class history to hit six sixes in an over after legends Garry Sobers and Ravi Shastri. Sobers was the first to do it in 1968, while Shastri replicated the feat during the 1984–85 Ranji Trophy season playing for Bombay against Baroda.
Akash’s explosive innings included eight towering sixes, leaving cricket fans and analysts stunned. His 11-ball blitz not only rewrote domestic cricket history but also dethroned England’s Wayne White, who previously held the record for the fastest first-class 50 (12 balls) set in 2012 for Leicestershire against Essex.
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Who is Akash Choudhary
Akash Kumar Choudhary made his first-class debut for Meghalaya in December 2019 against Nagaland. In that same year, he went on to feature in both List-A and T20 formats, representing his state against Sikkim and Gujarat. His path in domestic cricket, however, has been far from smooth.
Over the past few seasons, Akash endured an inconsistent run, managing only two fifties in his last ten innings. A rough patch saw him struggle to even cross 20 runs in five consecutive games. Yet, true to the spirit of perseverance, Akash bounced back recently with a half-century against Bihar, hinting that he was regaining his rhythm.
That flicker of form turned into a blazing storm in Surat, where his innings turned the spotlight back on him. Apart from his breathtaking batsmanship, Akash made an early impact with the ball too, opening the bowling and claiming a key wicket.
His all-round brilliance against Arunachal Pradesh helped Meghalaya seize total control of the game, leaving their opponents trailing by a massive 593 runs.
Making History in Style
Akash Choudhary’s record-breaking innings has now reserved a permanent place for him in India’s domestic cricket annals. For a young cricketer who has quietly toiled in the domestic circuit, his 11-ball half-century is a testament to both talent and tenacity.
As cricket fans across the country continue to celebrate this extraordinary feat, Akash’s achievement will serve as an inspiration for countless players in smaller states who dream of making it big on the national stage.
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