Chennai Super Kings left‑arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh has made a dream start to his IPL career by taking a wicket with the very first ball he bowled in the tournament, during CSK’s 2026 match against Delhi Capitals at the Chepauk stadium.
How the historic first‑ball wicket unfolded
Gurjapneet, 27, was entrusted with the important role of bowling the first over after a huge powerplay. KL and Nissanka went all guns blazing in the Powerplay and DC ended the Powerplay with 66 runs. Though the openers KL Rahul and Nissanka lost their wicket in the Powerplay, DC had laid the foundation in the chase against CSK. Then came Gurjapneet who picked up the wicket of DC captain Axar Patel in the very first ball of his IPL career. Thanks to Sarfaraz Khan who pulled up a blinder to give Gurjapneet his first IPL wicket.
The moment quickly went viral, with fans and commentators highlighting that the embryonic seamer had already etched his name into IPL trivia by claiming a maiden‑over, first‑ball dismissal in his debut outing.
From TNPL and India‑A to the IPL stage
Gurjapneet, who hails from Punjab but moved to Chennai in his teens, rose through the Tamil Nadu Premier League with teams like Dindigul Dragons and Madurai Panthers, earning a reputation as a lively, left‑arm quick with bounce and control. He impressed in the domestic circuit, taking wickets in the Ranji Trophy and the Duleep Trophy, and earned a place in the India A squad, building a profile that culminated in CSK buying him for a hefty ₹2.2 crore in the 2025 IPL auction.
Here are the players to pick a wicket in their very first ball of their IPL Career:
Ishant Sharma (KKR) in 2008
Wilkin Mota (Punjab Kings) in 2008
Shane Harwood (RR) in 2009
Amit Singh (RR) in 2009
Charl Langeveldt (KKR) in 2009
Ali Murtaza (MI) in 2010
TP Sudhindra (Deccan Charges) in 2012
Alzarri Joseph (MI) in 2019
Matheesha Pathirana (CSK) in 2022
Ashwani Kumar (MI) in 2025
Gurjapneet Singh (CSK) in 2026
Last season Gurjapneet stayed on the sidelines due to injury and selection depth, but in 2026 he has now not only broken into the XI but also announced himself with a memorable first‑ball scalp, positioning himself as one of the most promising young pace options in the Chennai Super Kings’ limited‑overs setup.
–Samuthiran
