Yashasvi Jaiswal Smashes World Record in Men’s T20I Cricket

Yashasvi Jaiswal created history in men’s T20I cricket by achieving a remarkable feat, becoming just the second batsman ever to hit sixes off the first two deliveries of a T20I match. This exceptional feat occurred during the fifth T20I of the series between India and Zimbabwe in Harare.

The left-handed opener Jaiswal opened with a bang, smashing a slog sweep over midwicket off Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza‘s delivery, which was adjudged a no-ball for overstepping. Subsequently, with the next ball being a free hit, Jaiswal lofted a powerful shot straight down the ground for another maximum, taking India’s score to 13 off just one legal delivery.

Although the momentum was quickly halted as Jaiswal fell victim to Raza’s yorker-length ball, resulting in his leg stump being dislodged from the ground. Yet, his initial fireworks etched his name in the record books.

Interestingly, the first cricketer to hit sixes off the first two balls of a T20I was Tanzania‘s Ivan Selemani against Rwanda’s Martin Akayezu, placing Jaiswal in elite company with this achievement. England‘s Phil Salt also displayed his power-hitting prowess recently by hitting back-to-back sixes at the T20 World Cup, adding more excitement to the format.

India, sent in to bat, managed to post a competitive total of 167/6 against Zimbabwe in the fifth T20I despite facing some challenging pace bowling. Jaiswal’s explosive start, scoring 12 runs off the very first legal delivery, set the tone for India’s innings, providing an early boost to the team’s total.

In response to Zimbabwe’s bowling attack, India’s top-order batsmen, including Sanju Samson, played crucial roles in stabilizing the innings. Samson’s 58 off 45 balls, supported by Riyan Parag’s 22 runs, propelled India past the century mark and towards a defendable total.

The match saw India navigating through early setbacks, losing Jaiswal, Shikhar Dhawan, and captain Shreyas Iyer in quick succession before a partnership between Samson and Parag steadied the ship. The duo’s partnership was crucial in building the platform for setting a challenging target for Zimbabwe.

With Zimbabwe’s pacers Luke Jongwe and Luke Roche proving effective with the ball, India’s middle order faced a stern test. However, the resilience shown by India’s batsmen, led by Samson and Parag, showcased their adaptability in adverse situations.

As the series stands with India leading 3-1, the final T20I highlighted the competitive spirit and the excitement of T20 cricket, with Jaiswal’s explosive start setting the tone for an action-packed match.