Not everyone walks into the IPL and waits for the game to come to them. A rare breed of batsmen have announced their arrival in the most explosive way possible, smashing a six off the very first ball of their IPL career.
The first to achieve this jaw-dropping feat was Australian Rob Quiney for the Rajasthan Royals back in 2009, and the latest to join this elite club is Akshat Raghuwanshi of Lucknow Super Giants in 2026. In between, only 11 players in IPL history have had the audacity, timing, and sheer nerve to clear the boundary before even settling in.
Complete List of Batsmen Who Hit a Six on the First Ball of Their IPL Career
| Rank | Player | Team | Year | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Quiney | RR | 2009 | KKR |
| 2 | Kevon Cooper | RR | 2012 | PBKS |
| 3 | Andre Russell | DC | 2012 | RCB |
| 4 | Carlos Brathwaite | DC | 2016 | KKR |
| 5 | Aniket Choudhary | RCB | 2017 | SRH |
| 6 | Javon Searles | KKR | 2018 | PBKS |
| 7 | Siddesh Lad | MI | 2019 | PBKS |
| 8 | Mahesh Theekshana | CSK | 2022 | RCB |
| 9 | Sameer Rizvi | CSK | 2024 | GT |
| 10 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | RR | 2025 | LSG |
| 11 | Akshat Raghuwanshi | LSG | 2026 | MI |
11 Batsmen Who Hit Six on their first Ball in IPL
Smashing a six on the first ball is a rare and fearless feat in the Indian Premier League. Here are 11 batsmen who made an instant impact with a boundary from ball one.
1. Rob Quiney (RR) 2009
The trailblazer. Australian batsman Rob Quiney became the first-ever player to hit a six on the first ball of his IPL career, doing it for Rajasthan Royals against the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2009. His stay was brief, just 6 runs off 2 balls, but his place in IPL trivia is forever cemented.
2. Kevon Cooper (RR) 2012
West Indian all-rounder Kevon Cooper followed Quiney’s footsteps, also representing the Rajasthan Royals. Coming in as a finisher at No. 6 against the Punjab Kings, Cooper blasted 11 runs off just 3 deliveries, helping RR post 191 and ultimately win the match by 31 runs.
3. Andre Russell (DC) 2012
Before KKR made him a cult hero, Andre Russell made his IPL debut for Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils). He didn’t bat in his first match against the Deccan Chargers, but when he faced RCB in the next game, he wasted no time, opening his IPL account with a towering six.
4. Carlos Brathwaite (DC) 2016
Four years after Russell’s debut six, fellow West Indian Carlos Brathwaite joined the club during the 2016 season, also representing Delhi Capitals. His debut came against the Kolkata Knight Riders, and he announced himself with a maximum off ball one.
5. Aniket Choudhary (RCB) 2017
Not your typical power-hitter, Aniket Choudhary surprised fans when he debuted for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2017 and launched a six off his very first delivery against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. A moment that stood out in an otherwise modest IPL stint.
6. Javon Searles (KKR) 2018
Javon Searles made his IPL debut for Kolkata Knight Riders against Punjab Kings and made it count with a debut six. It remains one of the most memorable moments of his brief IPL journey, a perfect first impression.
7. Siddesh Lad (MI) 2019
Mumbai Indians’ Siddesh Lad debuted against Punjab Kings in IPL 2019, facing Ankit Rajpoot as his first IPL bowler, and dispatching him for six. He was eventually dismissed by Mohammad Shami, but the six off ball one remains a career highlight.
8. Mahesh Theekshana (CSK) 2022
Sri Lankan spinner Mahesh Theekshana isn’t known for batting pyrotechnics, which made his debut six for CSK against RCB all the more surprising. He scored 7 off 4 balls that day, a cameo that began with the most explosive first delivery possible.
9. Sameer Rizvi (CSK) 2024
Bought as one of India’s most exciting young talents, Sameer Rizvi carried the weight of expectations into his CSK debut against the Gujarat Titans in 2024. He responded with a six off his first ball, a fitting statement from a player earmarked for the future.
10. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (RR) 2025
The youngest player ever to hit a six on the first ball of his IPL career, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi took the cricketing world by storm in 2025. Debuting for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants as a teenager, he launched his opening delivery into the stands, a moment that signalled the arrival of a generational talent.
11. Akshat Raghuwanshi (LSG) 2026
The latest entrant into this exclusive group, Akshat Raghuwanshi announced himself on the big stage for Lucknow Super Giants against Mumbai Indians in 2026. The 22-year-old cleared the boundary off ball one of his IPL career, becoming only the 11th batter in history to achieve this stunning feat.
Key Takeaways: Batsmen Who Hit Six on First Ball of IPL Career
- Total players to achieve this feat: 11
- First player: Rob Quiney (2009) for Rajasthan Royals
- Latest player: Akshat Raghuwanshi (2026) for Lucknow Super Giants
- Youngest player: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (2025)
- Most represented team: Rajasthan Royals (3 players — Quiney, Cooper, Sooryavanshi)
- West Indians dominate the list: Russell, Brathwaite, Cooper, Searles
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Conclusion: The First-Ball Six Club Is Cricket’s Boldest Fraternity
Hitting a six off the very first ball of your IPL career takes something beyond skill, it takes a mindset that refuses to be intimidated by the moment. From Rob Quiney’s trailblazing moment in 2009 to Akshat Raghuwanshi’s fearless entry in 2026, only 11 players in the history of the IPL have earned a place in this elite fraternity.
Each name on this list represents a moment where pressure was met not with caution, but with raw, uninhibited aggression. In a league built on entertainment, these batsmen delivered the ultimate opening act.
