Meghalaya’s 25-year-old all-rounder Akash Kumar Choudhary etched his name into cricket history by smashing eight consecutive sixes—the fastest first-class half-century in 14 balls—during a Ranji Trophy Plate Group match against Arunachal Pradesh on November 8, 2025, at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium. Coming in at No. 8 with his team at 576 for 6, Choudhary unleashed mayhem in the 126th over, hammering six maximums off Limar Dhabi’s bowling over long-off and long-on, then adding two more off TNR Mohith before Meghalaya declared at 628 for 6. The Shillong-born right-hander remained unbeaten on 50, surpassing Leicestershire’s Wayne White (12 balls) and joining Garry Sobers and Ravi Shastri as only the third player to hit six sixes in a single first-class over.

Unaware of the record’s magnitude mid-innings, Choudhary only realised the feat’s significance upon returning to the dressing room, where BCCI video analysts and scorers informed him. “It has sunk in a bit. It’s unreal,” he told the Hindustan Times on November 13, 2025, emphasising that the team’s declaration strategy demanded aggression. “The situation required me to go big. I wasn’t planning every ball for six, but once I connected, I just kept going,” he said. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma lauded the achievement on social media, hailing Choudhary for making the state proud and wishing him further milestones.

From humble beginnings, Choudhary’s journey began with tennis-ball cricket in Shillong’s streets. Son of a welder father and tailor mother, he progressed through inter-school tournaments before impressing selectors Venkatesh Prasad and Gyanendra Pandey at BCCI/NCA North-East trials. “I don’t come from a rich background. The easiest thing was picking up a ball and playing,” he reflected. His rise mirrors cricket’s growing footprint in the Northeast, bolstered by BCCI grassroots programmes and indoor facilities, shifting the region’s sporting identity beyond football.

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With the IPL 2026 mega-auction looming in late November, Choudhary’s explosive display—especially as a bowling all-rounder—has sparked scout interest. Yet, the level-headed cricketer remains focused on Meghalaya’s next Ranji fixture against Manipur. “It depends on franchises. I’m not thinking that far ahead—just the next match,” he said, prioritising process over hype. His 86-second blitz, viewed over 2 million times across platforms, has amplified calls for Northeast talent in mainstream leagues.

As Meghalaya chases Plate Group promotion, Choudhary’s feat symbolises a broader transformation: from tennis-ball alleys to first-class record books, proving that big dreams can ignite in India’s remotest corners. With BCCI’s continued investment, the region’s cricketing surge—evident in players like Riyan Parag and now Choudhary—promises a new pipeline of diverse, resilient talent for Indian cricket’s future.

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