Surat, gujarat – Akash Kumar Choudhary etched his name into cricket history Tuesday, smashing eight consecutive sixes during a Ranji Trophy Plate Group match and setting a new record for the fastest half-century in first-class cricket. The Meghalaya batsman reached fifty in just 11 balls, surpassing the previous record of 12.
Choudhary’s extraordinary feat occurred on the second day of the match against Arunachal Pradesh in Surat. Coming to the crease at number eight wiht Meghalaya already at 576-6, the 25-year-old began cautiously with a dot ball and two singles before unleashing an unprecedented assault on the Arunachal Pradesh bowling attack. He struck six consecutive sixes off left-arm spinner Limar Dabi, joining West Indies legend Sir Garfield Sobers (1968) and former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri (1985) as only the third player to achieve a six-sixes-in-an-over milestone in first-class cricket. Choudhary then extended his streak,hitting two more sixes from the next over bowled by off-spinner TNR Mohith,securing his record-breaking half-century.
The rapid-fire innings, ultimately an unbeaten 50 off 14 balls, propelled Meghalaya to declare at 629-8. Choudhary’s performance not only rewrites the record books for the fastest fifty but also highlights the growing talent within India’s domestic cricket structure. The Ranji Trophy, a cornerstone of Indian cricket, continues to produce remarkable performances and serves as a vital pathway for players to the national team.
Adding to his remarkable day, Choudhary also demonstrated his all-round abilities with the ball. He claimed 1-10 as Arunachal Pradesh were bowled out for a paltry 73, and then took 2-7 as they were forced to follow on, ending the day at 29-3 – still trailing by a meaningful 526 runs. Meghalaya is now firmly in control of the match, poised for a decisive victory.
