Yashasvi Jaiswal announced his intentions in the most emphatic way possible against Delhi Capitals in Jaipur on Friday night — swinging Mitchell Starc’s very first delivery of his IPL 2026 season over backward square leg for six. In doing so, Jaiswal joined one of the most exclusive clubs in IPL history: batters who have hit a six off the absolute first ball of a match.
It has happened only five times in 19 editions of the tournament.
Naman Ojha started it in 2009, pulling Brad Hodge over the ropes in Durban during the South Africa-hosted edition of the IPL. A decade later, Virat Kohli greeted Varun Aaron with a six off ball one in Bengaluru in 2019 — a moment that encapsulated exactly the kind of intent RCB needed from their captain at the top.
Phil Salt brought the six-off-ball-one moment back in 2024, launching Nuwan Thushara over the fence in Kolkata — a statement of aggressive intent from a KKR opener who went on to have a remarkable season. A year later, Priyansh Arya — the breakout star of IPL 2025 — greeted Khaleel Ahmed with a six off the first ball in Mullanpur, announcing himself to the IPL world in a single swing.
And now Jaiswal. Against Starc. At Sawai Mansingh Stadium. The irony of the moment was thick — the first ball of Starc’s entire IPL 2026 season, after months of injury, controversy and a delayed comeback, dispatched over the square leg boundary before he had even found his rhythm.
Starc did get the last laugh in the same over, trapping Jaiswal caught and bowled for 6 off 3 balls. But that first delivery belongs to Jaiswal — and to this list.
Full list — Six off the first ball of an IPL match
Naman Ojha (RR) off Brad Hodge (KKR) — Durban, 2009 Virat Kohli (RCB) off Varun Aaron (RR) — Bengaluru, 2019 Phil Salt (KKR) off Nuwan Thushara (MI) — Kolkata, 2024 Priyansh Arya (PBKS) off Khaleel Ahmed (CSK) — Mullanpur, 2025 Yashasvi Jaiswal (RR) off Mitchell Starc (DC) — Jaipur, 2026