Key Points
- Abhishek Sharma hit his 50th T20I six in 2025 during the second match against South Africa while chasing 214 runs
- He reached the milestone in just 19 T20I matches, scoring 790 runs at a strike rate exceeding 160
- Suryakumar Yadav previously achieved this feat in 2022 with 68 sixes in 31 matches
- Only two players from ICC Full Member nations have reached 50 sixes in a calendar year, both being Indians
- Austrian batsman Karanbir Singh holds the overall T20I record with 122 sixes in 2025
Abhishek Sharma etched his name in cricket history books during the pulsating second T20I of India’s five-match series against South Africa, becoming only the second Indian batter to clear the ropes 50 times in T20 International cricket within a single calendar year. The dynamic left-handed opener achieved this remarkable landmark in just his 19th T20I appearance of 2025, underscoring his evolution into one of the most explosive batsmen in the modern game.
Chasing a daunting target of 214 runs at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Sharma’s brief but impactful innings of 17 runs from eight deliveries included two massive sixes. The second maximum, clubbed over midwicket against South Africa’s pace spearhead, marked his 50th six of the year and triggered celebrations in the Indian dressing room. What makes this achievement particularly impressive is the strike rate at which he has accumulated these runs, maintaining a blistering pace above 160 throughout the year while amassing 790 runs.
The Elite Company of Suryakumar Yadav
Before Sharma’s heroics, Suryakumar Yadav stood alone as India’s only representative in this exclusive club. The Mumbai batsman redefined T20 batting in 2022 with his 360-degree strokeplay, hammering 68 sixes across 31 T20I matches while accumulating 1,164 runs. Yadav’s record-breaking spree that year earned him the ICC T20I Player of the Year award and established a benchmark for power-hitting excellence.
Sharma’s journey to 50 sixes has been notably more condensed, requiring 12 fewer matches than Yadav’s record-breaking year. This efficiency highlights the Punjab batsman’s aggressive intent from the outset and his ability to consistently find the boundary in the powerplay and middle overs. His transformation from a promising domestic talent to an international six-hitting machine reflects India’s emphasis on producing versatile power-hitters who can dominate global T20 leagues and international cricket alike.
Global Context and Records
While Sharma’s achievement places him among India’s T20I elite, the global T20 landscape has witnessed even more extraordinary six-hitting exploits in 2025. Austrian batsman Karanbir Singh has revolutionized associate nation cricket by smashing an unprecedented 122 sixes in 32 matches this year, scoring 1,488 runs at a strike rate that has caught the attention of T20 franchises worldwide. Singh’s remarkable feat demonstrates the expanding boundaries of power-hitting excellence beyond traditional cricket powerhouses.
Among ICC Full Member nations, Sharma and Yadav remain the only two batsmen to have crossed the 50-six threshold in a calendar year, placing Indian cricket at the forefront of consistent power-hitting at the highest level. This distinction becomes even more significant when considering the quality of opposition and pressure situations both Indian batsmen have faced during their record-breaking years.
The 2025 Six-Hitting Charts
The year 2025 has emerged as a watershed moment for T20I power-hitting, with five players surpassing the 50-six milestone. The list includes associate nation stars who have redefined batting possibilities:
Most Sixes in T20Is in 2025 (All Nations)
- Karanbir Singh (Austria): 122 sixes in 32 matches, 1,488 runs
- Fiyaz Ahmed (Bahrain): 67 sixes in 38 matches, 1,202 runs
- Bilal Zalmai (Austria): 57 sixes in 36 matches, 1,008 runs
- Asif Ali (Bahrain): 56 sixes in 30 matches, 940 runs
- Abhishek Sharma (India): 50 sixes in 19 matches, 790 runs
Most Sixes in a Calendar Year (Test-Playing Nations)
- Suryakumar Yadav (India): 68 sixes in 31 matches, 1,164 runs (2022)
- Abhishek Sharma (India): 50 sixes in 19 matches, 790 runs (2025)
- Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan): 45 sixes in 26 matches, 771 runs (2025)
- Suryakumar Yadav (India): 43 sixes in 18 matches, 733 runs (2023)
- Mohammad Rizwan (Pakistan): 42 sixes in 29 matches, 1,326 runs (2021)
Impact on Indian Cricket and Future Prospects
Sharma’s milestone arrives at a crucial juncture as India continues to build its squad for the 2026 T20 World Cup. His ability to provide explosive starts while maintaining consistency has addressed a long-standing need for aggressive left-handed openers in the Indian lineup. The management’s faith in his abilities, despite occasional failures, has been vindicated by his capacity to change matches within powerplay overs.
Cricket analysts note that Sharma’s six-hitting prowess stems from his impeccable timing, clean bat swing, and ability to clear boundaries against both pace and spin. His domestic performances for Punjab and in the Indian Premier League had already hinted at this potential, but his international translation of that form has exceeded expectations. With the South Africa series still ongoing and several T20I fixtures scheduled before year-end, Sharma has opportunities to increase his six-count and potentially challenge Yadav’s Indian record of 68 sixes.
The Road Ahead
As the cricketing world takes notice of Sharma’s achievement, attention now shifts to whether he can maintain this six-hitting momentum through the remainder of the South Africa series and upcoming tours. His strike rate and boundary percentage have made him a vital cog in India’s T20I machinery, particularly in run-chases where his intent sets the tone for the middle order.
The achievement also sparks discussions about the evolution of T20I cricket, where 50 sixes in a year, once considered extraordinary, may become a benchmark for elite batsmen. With Sharma’s career trajectory pointing upward and his confidence at an all-time high, Indian cricket fans can anticipate more fireworks as the young gun aims to scale even greater heights in the shortest format of the game.
