Priyansh Arya starts PBKS vs DC with another first-ball six in IPL 2026; goes above RCB duo Virat Kohli, Phil Salt
Priyansh Arya became the first batter in the history of IPL to start a match with a first-ball six - a feat that even Virat Kohli don't possess. Priyansh achieved the feat in 2025 and 2026, both in Punjab Kings colours.
Priyansh Arya went above the likes of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) duo of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt after the Punjab Kings opener started their match against Delhi Capitals with a first-ball six in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Monday.
After Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel sent Punjab Kings to bat first in Dharamsala, Priyansh sent Australian left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc sailing over cover-point for a maximum. It was a second instance in his career that Priyansh started an IPL innings with a maximum on the very first ball.
The last time Priyansh started an IPL match with a six was in 2025 when he smashed Chennai Super Kings (CSK) pacer Khaleel Ahmed in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. In the process, the Punjab Kings southpaw became the first batter to start an IPL with a six twice in his career.
Kohli and Salt too have their names on the elite list, but have been able to achieve the milestone only once in their IPL career so far.
Batters to hit first ball of an IPL match for six
| Batter | Opponent Bowler | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Naman Ojha (Rajasthan Royals) | Brad Hodge (Kolkata Knight Riders) | Durban | 2009 |
| Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) | Varun Aaron (Rajasthan Royals) | Bengaluru | 2019 |
| Phil Salt (Kolkata Knight Riders) | Nuwan Thushara (Mumbai Indians) | Kolkata | 2024 |
| Priyansh Arya (Punjab Kings) | Khaleel Ahmed (Chennai Super Kings) | Mullanpur | 2025 |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal (Rajasthan Royals) | Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals) | Jaipur | 2026 |
| Priyansh Arya (Punjab Kings) | Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals) | Dharamsala | 2026 |
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings were off to a flying start after being sent into bat with Priyansh racing to his fifty in just 24 balls. However, Priyansh couldn't make it big as he was caught by Sahil Parakh off Madhav Tiwari. Apart from Starc, Priyansh was brutal against the likes of Aquib Nabi and Mukesh Kumar among other Delhi Capitals bowlers.
Earlier, Australian left-arm medium pacer Ben Dwarshius made his IPL debut for Punjab Kings, replacing an injured Lockie Ferguson. Delhi Capitals, meanwhile, made five changes, bringing in Abhishek Porel, Sahil Parekh, David Miller, Madhav Tiwary and Aaquib Nabi.
Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals playing XIs
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Ben Dwarshuis, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Delhi Capitals: KL Rahul (wk), Abishek Porel, Sahil Parakh, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel (c), Madhav Tiwari, Mukesh Kumar, Auqib Nabi Dar, Mitchell Starc, Lungi Ngidi.
Do-or-die for Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings
With just four wins in 11 games in IPL 2026, Delhi Capitals' hopes of reaching the playoffs are hanging by a thread. A win against Punjab Kings will keep them alive in the competition. But a loss will dash all Delhi Capitals' hopes. On the other hand, a victory will ensure Punjab Kings rise to the top of the table with 15 points. Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants have already been eliminated from the playoffs race.
Catch the live updates from IPL 2026 with the complete IPL 2026 Schedule and the IPL 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts in IPL 2026 Orange Cap and IPL 2026 Purple Cap.
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Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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