Ishan Kishan Surpasses Sachin Tendulkar in Calendar Year Sixes Record
Ishan Kishan has hit 52 sixes in 2026, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's 1998 record of 51 sixes in a calendar year during the India vs Afghanistan T20I series.
28 Sept 2026, 09:20 UTC
While cricket fans in India frequently search for रन (runs) to track match scores and player performance, the current sporting conversation is centered on a significant power-hitting milestone. Wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan has officially overtaken legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar in the list of Indians who have hit the most sixes in a single calendar year.
The Milestone: Breaking a 28-Year-Old Record
As of September 16, 2026, Ishan Kishan has hit 52 sixes in the 2026 calendar year, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's record of 51 sixes established in 1998. This achievement occurred during India's T20I series against Afghanistan. In the second T20I, Kishan scored an unbeaten 38 runs off 23 balls, including two sixes, which provided the necessary tally to move past Tendulkar [1].
Kishan's aggressive form was evident throughout the series; in the first match, he contributed 42 runs from 33 balls. His performance helped India secure a seven-wicket victory in the second T20I, reaching 163/3 in 14.5 overs.
The Power-Hitting Hierarchy: Where Kishan Stands
By reaching 52 sixes, Kishan is now tied for fifth place in the all-time Indian calendar-year list with Yashasvi Jaiswal, who hit 52 sixes in 2024. The gold standard for Indian power-hitting remains Rohit Sharma, who holds the record with 80 sixes in 2023.
The following table details the top Indian players by sixes hit in a single calendar year:
| Player | Sixes | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 80 | 2023 |
| Rohit Sharma | 78 | 2019 |
| Rohit Sharma / Suryakumar Yadav | 74 | 2018 / 2022 |
| Rohit Sharma | 65 | 2017 |
| Shubman Gill | 58 | 2023 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 56 | 2023 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 54 | 2025 |
| Ishan Kishan / Yashasvi Jaiswal | 52 | 2026 / 2024 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 51 | 1998 |
| Yuvraj Singh | 47 | 2007 |
Current Team Dynamics and Transitions
Kishan's record-breaking run coincides with a period of transition in the Indian T20 setup. Rohit Sharma has retired from T20Is and Tests, remaining active only in ODIs. Additionally, the team has seen changes in leadership and squad composition. Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to the T20 World Cup 2026 victory, was reportedly dropped from the squad and removed from the captaincy due to poor batting form [1]. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill, the current captain of the Test and ODI teams, has not been a part of the T20 setup for some time.
With the final T20I against Afghanistan remaining, Kishan is now in a position to surpass Yashasvi Jaiswal and claim sole possession of the fifth spot on the list.
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