Most batters ease into their IPL debut. A quiet single, a watchful dot ball, maybe a streaky edge. That’s the norm.
Then there are the rare ones who walk out and clear the rope first ball.
It’s one of the most dramatic things a debutant can do.
No warm-up, no net practice, no second chances. Just a delivery, a decision, and a six.
Akshat Raghuwanshi did exactly that on 4 May 2026.
The 21-year-old LSG middle-order batter faced Will Jacks and launched him over long-on for 89 metres. First ball of his IPL career. Bang.
List of Batters to Hit First Ball 6 on IPL Debut
He joined a very short list. Here’s every batter to hit the first ball 6 on IPL debut.
Full List of Batters to Hit First Ball 6 on IPL Debut
This list has grown slowly over 19 seasons. Eleven names in total. Not many.
| # | Batter | Team | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Quiney | RR | KKR | Cape Town | 2009 |
| 2 | Kevon Cooper | RR | KXIP | Jaipur | 2012 |
| 3 | Andre Russell | DC | RCB | Delhi | 2012 |
| 4 | Carlos Brathwaite | DD | KKR | Kolkata | 2016 |
| 5 | Aniket Choudhary | RCB | SRH | Hyderabad | 2017 |
| 6 | Javon Searles | KKR | PBKS | Indore | 2018 |
| 7 | Siddhesh Lad | MI | KXIP | Wankhede | 2019 |
| 8 | Maheesh Theekshana | CSK | RCB | Pune | 2022 |
| 9 | Sameer Rizvi | CSK | GT | Chennai | 2024 |
| 10 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | RR | LSG | Jaipur | 2025 |
| 11 | Akshat Raghuwanshi | LSG | MI | Wankhede | 2026 |
Who Are These Batters?
A few of these names went on to big IPL careers. Others didn’t last long. But every single one of them owns this moment.
- Andre Russell (2012)
The most successful name on this list. Russell joined the Delhi Capitals and opened his IPL account with a six. He went on to become one of the most feared hitters in T20 history, spending most of his career with KKR. His IPL record is well-documented — big hitting, late surges, match-winning knocks.
- Carlos Brathwaite (2016)
One year after that famous ICC World T20 final against England, Brathwaite did it again in his IPL debut. He hit the first ball he faced for six. His IPL career was decent without ever scaling those Caribbean heights, but this debut moment was sharp.
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (2025)
The 14-year-old from Rajasthan who set social media on fire. He became the youngest player to debut in IPL history and hit his very first ball for six. Rajasthan Royals picked him for good reason.
- Akshat Raghuwanshi (2026)
The newest name on this list. LSG bought him for 2.20 crore. He walked in after Rishabh Pant’s dismissal during a chaotic middle phase against the Mumbai Indians. Facing Will Jacks, he hit an 89-metre six over long-on. Clean strike, fearless mind.
The added context: his idol is Rohit Sharma, MI’s captain. His IPL debut came against Rohit’s team.
What Makes This Feat So Hard?
Hitting a six off the first ball of your debut is not just about skill. It’s about mindset.
When a batter walks in on debut, nerves are the default setting.
The crowd is loud. The cameras are close. The bowler knows the batter hasn’t faced a ball yet.
Most coaches would say: take your time. Play yourself in. Read the conditions.
None of these eleven did that. They assessed the first ball and attacked it. That takes a specific kind of calm.
It also takes some luck. The ball has to be hittable. The fielding placement has to allow a gap or a boundary. These things don’t line up often.
How Many Players Have Hit a Six on First Ball of IPL Debut?
Eleven. Across 19 IPL seasons and hundreds of debut innings, only 11 batters have managed this.
That’s roughly one every two seasons on average, though the recent pace has picked up, with three sixes in three consecutive years (Sameer Rizvi in 2024, Sooryavanshi in 2025, Raghuwanshi in 2026).
FAQs
- Q: Who was the first batter to hit a six on the first ball of their IPL debut?
A: Rob Quiney of Rajasthan Royals, against KKR in Cape Town during IPL 2009.
- Q: How many batters have hit a six off the first ball of their IPL debut?
A: Eleven batters have done it across IPL history up to 2026.
- Q: Did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit a six on his IPL debut?
A: Yes. He hit a six off the first ball he faced in IPL 2025, playing for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur.
- Q: Did Akshat Raghuwanshi hit a six on debut?
A: Yes. On 4 May 2026, Raghuwanshi hit the first ball of his IPL career for six off Will Jacks, playing for LSG against the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede.
- Q: Did Andre Russell hit a six on his IPL debut?
A: Yes. Russell debuted for Delhi Capitals against RCB in Delhi in 2012 and hit his first ball for six.
- Q: Which team has the most players to hit a six on the first ball of their IPL debut?
A: Rajasthan Royals have two — Rob Quiney (2009) and Kevon Cooper (2012). CSK also has two — Maheesh Theekshana (2022) and Sameer Rizvi (2024).
Conclusion:
Eleven names. One very short list.
From Rob Quiney in Cape Town in 2009 to Akshat Raghuwanshi at Wankhede in 2026, these are the batters who refused to ease into the IPL.
They stepped out and cleared the rope first ball.
Every time a new batter debuts in IPL, this list has a chance to grow.
It doesn’t often. That’s what makes it worth remembering.
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