Taking a wicket on the first ball of a T20 International career is rare enough. Taking two wickets from the first two deliveries is an extraordinary introduction to the format, one that instantly announces a bowler’s arrival. Only three bowlers, men or women, have managed this feat in T20I history: Australia’s Michael Kasprowicz, the USA’s Akshatha Rao, and India’s 20-year-old batting all-rounder Niki Prasad.
Prasad became the first Indian woman and the second woman overall to achieve the landmark during India’s second T20I against Zimbabwe at Raipur on 18th October 2026, helping India win by nine wickets and take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Michael Kasprowicz (Australia) vs New Zealand, 2005
Former Australian pacer Michael Kasprowicz was already an experienced international cricketer when he made his T20I debut against New Zealand at Auckland on 17th February 2005. He had first represented Australia in ODIs on 19th December 1995, against the West Indies at Melbourne, but his first two T20I deliveries produced a stunning double breakthrough.
Kasprowicz struck in the sixth over of New Zealand’s chase, removing former skipper and opening batter Stephen Fleming for 18 off 13 balls with his first delivery. He then trapped Mathew Sinclair for a first-ball duck on the very next ball. The right-arm quick finished with excellent figures of 4 for 29 from four overs as Australia defended 215 and bowled New Zealand out for 170, winning by 44 runs.
Ricky Ponting was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 98 off 55 balls from No. 4, which powered Australia to 214 for 5. Kasprowicz played only two T20Is, taking five wickets at an average of 11.40 and an economy rate of 8.14, but his explosive debut remains one of the format’s most memorable first spells.
Akshatha Rao (USA) vs Bangladesh, 2019
Former USA off-spinner Akshatha Rao created history as the first woman to take two wickets in her first two T20I deliveries. She made her international debut for the USA against Scotland at Dundee on 31st August 2019, and achieved the landmark a day later against Bangladesh at Arbroath in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier.
Rao dismissed Bangladesh opener Ayasha Rahman, who made 8 off 11 balls, with the first ball of the eighth over of the second innings. She then trapped the other opener, Sanjida Islam, leg-before for 30 off 34 balls with the following delivery. Her remarkable spell read 1-0-2-2, though the USA could not capitalise on her breakthrough after being bowled out for just 46 and losing by eight wickets.
Rao went on to take six wickets in nine T20Is for the USA, at an average of 20.16 and an economy rate of 5.04. Her feat stood alone among women cricketers for seven years before Niki Prasad joined the exclusive club.
Niki Prasad (India) vs Zimbabwe, 2026
India’s Niki Prasad became the third bowler overall, second woman and first Indian woman to take two wickets with her first two T20I deliveries. The 20-year-old off-spinning batting all-rounder made her international debut in the first T20I against Zimbabwe at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on 16th October 2026, part of India’s first-ever white-ball bilateral series against Josephine Nkomo’s side.
In the second T20I on 18th October, after Zimbabwe chose to bat, Prasad removed Chipo Mugeri Tiripano for 34 off 32 balls with her first delivery and dismissed Nyasha Gwanzura for a first-ball duck with her next. She finished with impressive figures of 2 for 7 from two overs as Zimbabwe were restricted to 102 for 8. India then chased down 103 in just 8.5 overs, winning by nine wickets to seal the series 2-0 with a match to spare.
Prasad had already shown her temperament on debut, scoring an unbeaten 39 off 35 balls at No. 5 while chasing 115. Her six-boundary knock, including a decisive 82-run fifth-wicket stand with Deepti Sharma, who made 49 off 37 balls, guided India home with four wickets in hand. With the third T20I scheduled at the same venue on 20th October, Prasad will look to complete a memorable debut series with a whitewash.