Indian domestic cricket witnessed a historic moment when Meghalaya’s young batter Akash Kumar Choudhary smashed the fastest 50 in Ranji cricket, reaching his half-century in just 11 balls. The incredible knock came during a Ranji Trophy Plate Group match against Arunachal Pradesh in Surat.
In doing so, Akash not only created a Ranji Trophy record but also broke the world record for the fastest half-century in First-Class cricket, going past the previous best of 12 balls held by Wayne Knight.
Six Sixes in an Over: A Knock to Remember
Akash’s innings exploded in the 126th over of Meghalaya’s innings. Facing left-arm spinner Limar Dabi, he smashed six consecutive sixes, becoming only the third player in First-Class cricket history to achieve this rare feat.
🚨 Record Alert 🚨
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) November 9, 2025
First player to hit eight consecutive sixes in first-class cricket ✅
Fastest fifty, off just 11 balls, in first-class cricket ✅
Meghalaya's Akash Kumar etched his name in the record books with a blistering knock of 50*(14) in the Plate Group match against… pic.twitter.com/dJbu8BVhb1
The 21-year-old walked in at No. 8, started cautiously, and then shifted gears dramatically. After settling in, he hammered eight back-to-back sixes across two overs, sending the stadium into complete shock.
Top 5 Fastest 50 in Ranji Cricket (By Balls Faced)
| Rank | Player | Balls for Fifty | Team | Opponent | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Akash Kumar Choudhary | 11 balls | Meghalaya | Arunachal Pradesh | 2025 |
| 2 | Bandeep Singh | 15 balls | Jammu & Kashmir | Tripura | 2015–16 |
| 3 | Shakti Singh | 18 balls | Himachal Pradesh | Haryana | 1990–91 |
| 3 | Yusuf Pathan | 18 balls | Baroda | Andhra | 2012–13 |
| 5 | Ravi Shastri | 19 balls | Bombay | Baroda | 1984–85 |
Records Broken by Akash Choudhary
Akash’s blitzkrieg demolished several long-standing records:
- Fastest 50 in Ranji cricket – 11 balls
- Fastest 50 in First-Class cricket history – 11 balls
- Broke Wayne Knight’s 12-ball world record
- Surpassed Clive Inman’s legendary 13-ball fifty from 1965
- Became only the third player to hit six sixes in a First-Class over
While he missed the fastest fifty by time (he took 9 minutes; Inman took 8), his record by balls faced is unmatched.
Akash Choudhary’s Domestic Journey So Far
Before this match, Akash had modest First-Class numbers:
- 30 Matches
- 503 Runs
- Average: 14.37
- Two Half-Centuries
His debut in 2019 for Meghalaya was quiet, but this innings has instantly put him in national headlines.
Akash Kumar Choudhary’s explosive 11-ball fifty has redefined aggressive batting in India’s domestic cricket scene. The record for the fastest 50 in Ranji cricket is now not just a domestic achievement—it is a world record in First-Class cricket history.
