400 and counting: Why India are ahead of the curve in six-hitting
The Indian cricket team has set a record by hitting 400 sixes in T20I matches during the 2026 calendar year. Analysts attribute this performance to a shift in batting strategy that prioritizes skill mastery over traditional risk management.
Why it matters
This shift in tactical approach marks a significant evolution in T20 cricket, influencing how teams globally prepare for the format.
NEW DELHI: India hit 289 sixes in 40 T20Is in 2022. Four years later, they have smashed 400 in the same number of matches, a staggering 38.4 per cent increase. And the six-hitting spree is far from over. It has merely been put on hold for eight weeks, with Shreyas Iyer's men set to resume their big-hitting exploits against Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series in December.On the second ball of the 19th over against New Zealand, Naman Dhir's top-edge sailed over fine leg and landed 15 rows back in the stands. It was India's 400th six in 2026, making them the first team to reach this monumental milestone. Of those, 142 have come against New Zealand, the most India have hit against any opposition in a calendar year.India's six-hitting prowess was also one of the reasons behind their 3-2 series win against New Zealand.
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