Hyderabad: India opener Abhishek Sharma created history during the fourth T20I against West Indies on Wednesday, setting a new world record for the most sixes hit by a player from a Full Member nation in T20 Internationals in a calendar year.

Abhishek smashed his 69th six of 2026 during the match, surpassing the previous record of 68 sixes set by former India captain Suryakumar Yadav in 2022. With six more T20I matches scheduled for India this year, Abhishek has an opportunity to extend his record further and potentially reach the remarkable milestone of 100 sixes in a calendar year.

The achievement adds to Abhishek’s growing list of milestones in the shortest format, underlining his aggressive approach and ability to score boundaries at a rapid pace.

Abhishek Surpasses Suryakumar Yadav’s Record

Abhishek’s 69 sixes in 2026 took him past Suryakumar Yadav’s previous record of 68, which was established in 2022. The new mark places the left-handed opener at the top of the list of players from Full Member nations with the most sixes in a calendar year in T20I cricket.

The leading performances in the category are:

  • Abhishek Sharma: 69 sixes in 2026
  • Suryakumar Yadav: 68 sixes in 2022
  • Abhishek Sharma: 54 sixes in 2025
  • Ishan Kishan: 52 sixes in 2026

Abhishek’s presence twice in the list highlights his consistency as a six-hitter across successive years. His latest record also comes with several matches remaining in the calendar year, giving him an opportunity to increase his tally.

The record was achieved despite India’s defeat in the fourth T20I against West Indies. While the team fell short in the chase, Abhishek’s individual milestone remained a major talking point from the match.

Another Milestone in Abhishek’s T20I Career

The latest record follows another important achievement in Abhishek’s international career. In the previous match, the opener became the sixth Indian batter to score 2,000 runs in T20I cricket.

The other members of India’s 2,000-run club are Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul.

Rohit Sharma leads the group with 4,231 runs, followed by Virat Kohli with 4,188. Suryakumar Yadav has scored 3,272 runs, while Hardik Pandya has accumulated 2,288 and KL Rahul 2,265.

Joining this group reflects Abhishek’s growing contribution to India’s T20I batting line-up. His ability to combine quick scoring with significant run totals has made him one of the prominent performers in the format.

Abhishek Enjoys a Productive 2026

Abhishek has had a productive year, scoring 950 runs in 33 matches and innings, according to the figures provided in the report. He has maintained an average of more than 29 and a strike rate above 206.

His tally includes one century and eight half-centuries. His career-best score of 108 is also described in the report as the fastest T20I century by a batter from a Test-playing nation.

These performances demonstrate the impact of Abhishek’s attacking batting style. His high strike rate allows him to score quickly, while his boundary-hitting ability has helped him establish the new calendar-year sixes record.

Although he has experienced some inconsistent performances, his overall numbers in 2026 underline his contribution to India’s T20I campaign.

India Fall Short Against West Indies

Despite Abhishek’s record, India suffered a 24-run defeat against West Indies in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad.

Chasing a target of 248, India needed a strong start and Sanju Samson provided one with an aggressive innings. Samson scored 56 off 23 balls, reaching his half-century in just 20 deliveries and giving India early momentum.

However, India struggled to maintain the pace after Samson’s dismissal, losing wickets at regular intervals. Abhishek managed 29 off 24 balls, unable to convert his start into a bigger contribution.

Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy attempted to keep the chase alive with quick contributions. Tilak scored 43, while Reddy made 41. Their efforts helped India continue the pursuit, but the required target remained beyond reach.

India eventually fell short, allowing West Indies to secure an important victory in the five-match series.

West Indies Level the Series at 2-2

The victory enabled West Indies to level the five-match T20I series at 2-2, setting up a decisive final match between the teams.

India and West Indies are scheduled to meet in the series finale in Bengaluru on Saturday. With the series evenly poised, the final encounter will determine which side finishes the contest on top.

For Abhishek, the fourth T20I brought a significant personal achievement despite the team result. His 69 sixes in 2026 established a new record among players from Full Member nations, and the remaining matches of the year provide an opportunity to extend it further.