Anshul Kamboj’s Unwanted IPL Record: First Bowler Concedes Four Sixes Twice in an Over
The fast-paced, high-stakes environment of the Indian Premier League (IPL) often sees records being broken, both glorious and unfortunate. In a recent IPL 2026 encounter between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium, 25-year-old CSK pacer Anshul Kamboj unfortunately etched his name into the history books for an unwanted milestone. Kamboj became the first bowler in IPL history to be hit for four sixes in a single over not once, but twice, during the same match.
A Challenging Night for Anshul Kamboj
The former Mumbai Indians player faced a relentless assault from the LSG batsmen, leading to a night of considerable difficulty on the field. The first instance of four sixes in an over occurred early in the innings, orchestrated by Australian star Mitchell Marsh. In the fifth over of the match, Marsh launched an aggressive onslaught, hitting Kamboj for four successive sixes. This remarkable display of power-hitting contributed significantly to a massive 28-run over. After the four consecutive maximums, a dot ball provided a brief respite, but the final delivery of the over saw Marsh smashing a boundary, setting a brisk pace for LSG in their chase of 188 runs.
Kamboj’s challenges were far from over. As the game neared its conclusion, with Chennai Super Kings already struggling, the situation took another turn for the worse. After the second strategic time-out, LSG required 24 runs to win from four overs, a seemingly manageable target. However, West Indian power-hitter Nicholas Pooran ensured a swift end to the contest, inflicting further misery on Kamboj. Pooran targeted the pacer, dispatching him for four sixes in an over to emphatically seal the game for Lucknow Super Giants. Chennai ultimately lost the match by seven wickets, and Kamboj’s final figures stood at a disheartening 0/63 from just 2.4 overs, without claiming a single wicket.
Ambati Rayudu Defends the Pacer’s Performance
Following Kamboj’s challenging outing, former IPL champion Ambati Rayudu, who has lifted the trophy with both Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, offered a nuanced perspective on the pacer’s performance. Speaking on ESPN Cricinfo’s Time-out show, Rayudu acknowledged the difficulty of the situation while defending Kamboj’s overall season. He stated that Kamboj “has been bowling well this season, and a bad day is just around the corner,” emphasizing that even top performers can have off days.
Rayudu further elaborated on the quality of Kamboj’s bowling against Marsh, suggesting that the Australian’s batting was exceptional rather than Kamboj bowling poorly. He observed that “All those balls that Anshul bowled to Marsh were decent balls. Except for the last delivery, it was incredible batting by Mitch Marsh.” Rayudu also highlighted the unfortunate timing of Kamboj facing two batsmen who were in sublime form. He also suggested that a bit more support from his teammates might have helped the young bowler, adding that “Maybe a few Chennai players could have gone up to the bowler and offered him some encouragement and asked him to take his time before running into bowl,” pointing to the importance of team morale and support in high-pressure situations.
Anshul Kamboj’s Figures in Context: The Worst Bowling in IPL History
While Anshul Kamboj’s 0/63 from 2.4 overs represents a deeply disappointing performance, it is important to contextualize these figures within the broader history of the IPL’s most expensive bowling spells. Kamboj’s figures currently rank as the 22nd-worst in the league’s history.
The unenviable record for the most runs conceded in a single IPL innings is held by English pacer Jofra Archer. Playing for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in a 2025 fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Archer was hit for a staggering 76 runs from his full quota of four wicketless overs. This performance remains at the top of the list for the most expensive spells.
Coming in second on this list is India’s veteran seamer Mohammed Shami, who conceded 75 runs from his four overs for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 2025 edition of the tournament. The third position is occupied by former Lucknow Super Giants pacer William O’Rourke. Following him on the list of most expensive spells are Indian bowlers Mohit Sharma and Basil Thampi, further illustrating the immense challenge faced by bowlers in a format dominated by powerful batsmen and small boundaries.
Kamboj’s experience serves as a stark reminder of the fine margins in T20 cricket, where even decent deliveries can be dispatched for boundaries by world-class hitters. While a tough day on the field, it is a moment that adds another chapter to the ever-evolving statistical tapestry of the Indian Premier League.
