Daijiworld Media Network - Hyderabad
Hyderabad, Oct 15: India opener Abhishek Sharma surpassed former captain Suryakumar Yadav to record the most sixes by a player from a full-member nation in a calendar year in T20 International cricket. Abhishek achieved the feat by hitting his 69th six of 2026 during the fourth T20I against West Indies in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
Suryakumar previously held the record with 68 sixes in 2022. Abhishek overtook the tally in the ninth over of India's chase of 248 runs when he advanced down the pitch against Shamar Springer and sent the ball over the boundary.
Abhishek's latest achievement adds to an eventful year in which he has produced several explosive performances. He began 2026 with an 84-run knock off 35 balls against New Zealand in Nagpur, smashing eight sixes. He followed it up with an unbeaten 68 off just 20 deliveries in Guwahati, which included five sixes.
However, the left-handed opener subsequently endured a difficult phase, recording five ducks in his first eight innings before returning to form.
West Indies won the fourth T20I by 25 runs to level the five-match series 2-2. The deciding match will be played in Bengaluru.
West Indies captain Shai Hope was the standout performer in the first innings, smashing an unbeaten 102 off 50 balls. He reached his century with a six off the final delivery of the innings, helping the visitors post an imposing 247 for three after being asked to bat first.
The century was Hope's second in the series, fourth of the tour and third in T20 International cricket.
Sherfane Rutherford provided valuable support with an unbeaten 49 off 26 deliveries. The pair added 91 runs for the fourth wicket in just 43 balls, powering West Indies to a formidable total. The visitors struck 16 sixes and benefited from 18 extras as India's bowlers struggled to contain the scoring.
During the chase, Sanju Samson provided India with a strong start by scoring a blistering half-century. However, his dismissal left the hosts struggling to maintain the required scoring rate.
Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy attempted to revive India's hopes, but the target proved beyond reach as the hosts were bowled out for 223, handing West Indies a 25-run victory and setting up a series decider in Bengaluru.