The Indian Premier League (IPL) stands as a premier T20 cricket championship organized annually by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Unlike the more strategic and measured formats of One Day Internationals (ODIs) or Test cricket, the IPL prioritizes entertainment and aggression, fostering a dynamic and fast-paced atmosphere on the field. Dot balls, uncommon in the IPL, give way to an abundance of boundaries as batters aim for maximum runs.
Boundaries, the primary source of scoring in cricket, play a pivotal role in crafting exhilarating innings. In cricket, there are two types of boundaries: the four, achieved when the ball makes contact with the ground before leaving the field, and the six, where the ball clears the boundary ropes without touching the ground.
Among these, the six stands out as the most explosive and crowd-rousing boundary, often sparking the loudest reactions from spectators. While a four may be a safer option, many batsmen in the IPL and globally prefer the thrill of hitting sixes, even if it means taking risks and inviting potential catches. In both the IPL and international cricket, there exist a select few players who have hit more sixes than fours throughout their careers.
Top Players with Most Sixes in IPL History
- Chris Gayle tops the list for the most sixes in IPL history, boasting an unparalleled record of 357 sixes, a feat unlikely to be matched by any other cricketer.
- Rohit Sharma, the current captain of Mumbai Indians, holds the second position with 255 sixes to his name.
- AB de Villiers secures the third spot with a total of 251 sixes credited to his explosive batting prowess in the IPL.
Player | Mat | SR | 100 | 6s |
CH Gayle (KKR/KXIP/PBKS/RCB) | 142 | 148.96 | 6 | 357 |
RG Sharma (DC/MI) | 244 | 130.15 | 1 | 258 |
AB de Villiers (DC/RCB) | 184 | 151.68 | 3 | 251 |
MS Dhoni (CSK/RPS) | 251 | 135.91 | - | 239 |
V Kohli (RCB) | 239 | 130.16 | 7 | 237 |
DA Warner (DC/SRH) | 177 | 139.9 | 4 | 228 |
KA Pollard (MI) | 189 | 147.32 | - | 223 |
SK Raina (CSK/GL) | 205 | 136.73 | 1 | 203 |
AD Russell (DC/KKR) | 113 | 175.54 | - | 200 |
SR Watson (CSK/RCB/RR) | 145 | 137.91 | 4 | 190 |
SV Samson (DC/RR) | 153 | 137.56 | 3 | 188 |
RV Uthappa (CSK/KKR/MI/PWI/RCB/RR) | 205 | 130.35 | - | 182 |
AT Rayudu (CSK/MI) | 204 | 127.54 | 1 | 173 |
KL Rahul (KXIP/LSG/PBKS/RCB/SRH) | 119 | 134.38 | 4 | 170 |
GJ Maxwell (DC/KXIP/MI/RCB) | 126 | 157.25 | - | 158 |
YK Pathan (KKR/RR/SRH) | 174 | 142.97 | 1 | 158 |
JC Buttler (MI/RR) | 97 | 148.21 | 5 | 149 |
Yuvraj Singh (DC/KXIP/MI/PWI/RCB/SRH) | 132 | 129.71 | - | 149 |
S Dhawan (DC/MI/PBKS/SRH) | 219 | 127.16 | 2 | 149 |
F du Plessis (CSK/RCB/RPS) | 132 | 134.07 | - | 145 |
KD Karthik (DC/GL/KKR/KXIP/MI/RCB) | 244 | 133.23 | - | 143 |
N Rana (KKR/MI) | 106 | 134.94 | - | 131 |
BB McCullum (CSK/GL/KKR/Kochi/RCB) | 109 | 131.74 | 2 | 130 |
RR Pant (DC) | 99 | 147.9 | 1 | 129 |
DA Miller (GT/KXIP/RR) | 122 | 138.23 | 1 | 126 |
Top Teams with Most Sixes in IPL History
Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore Leading in Most Sixes in IPL History
Rank | Teams | Sixes |
1 | Mumbai Indians | 1548 |
2 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 1484 |
3 | Punjab Kings | 1393 |
4 | Chennai Super Kings | 1401 |
5 | Kolkata Knight Riders | 1351 |
6 | Delhi Capitals | 1214 |
7 | Rajasthan Royals | 1123 |
8 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 861 |
9 | Deccan Chargers | 400 |
10 | Lucknow Super Giants | 230 |
11 | Pune Warriors India | 196 |
12 | Gujarat Titans | 181 |
13 | Rising Pune Supergiant | 157 |
14 | Gujarat Lions | 155 |
15 | Kochi Tuskers Kerala | 53 |
Most Sixes in an Innings: Chris Gayle's Record-breaking Performance
Rank | Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | Opposition |
1 | Chris Gayle (RCB) | 175* | 66 | 13 | 17 | 265.15 | PW |
2 | Brendon McCullum (KKR) | 158* | 73 | 10 | 13 | 216.43 | RCB |
3 | Chris Gayle (RCB) | 128* | 62 | 7 | 13 | 206.45 | DD |
4 | Chris Gayle (RCB) | 117 | 57 | 7 | 12 | 205.26 | KXIP |
5 | AB de Villiers (RCB) | 129* | 52 | 10 | 12 | 248.07 | Guj Lions |
6 | Sanath Jayasuriya (MI) | 114* | 48 | 9 | 11 | 237.5 | CSK |
7 | Murali Vijay (CSK) | 127 | 56 | 8 | 11 | 226.78 | RR |
8 | Andre Russell (KKR) | 88* | 36 | 1 | 11 | 244.44 | CSK |
9 | Chris Gayle (KXIP) | 104* | 63 | 1 | 11 | 165.07 | SRH |
10 | Adam Gilchrist (DEC) | 109* | 47 | 9 | 10 | 231.91 | MI |
11 | Sanju Samson (RR) | 92* | 45 | 2 | 10 | 204.44 | RCB |
12 | Shreyas Iyer (DD) | 93* | 40 | 3 | 10 | 232.5 | KKR |
13 | Kieron Pollard (MI) | 83 | 31 | 3 | 10 | 267.74 | KXIP |
14 | Quinton de Kock (LSG) | 140* | 70 | 10 | 10 | 200 | KKR |
15 | Michael Hussey (CSK) | 116* | 54 | 8 | 9 | 214.81 | KXIP |
Most Sixes in an IPL Season: Chris Gayle's Dominance
In the annals of the IPL, Chris Gayle's name reigns supreme yet again, showcasing his unrivaled power-hitting prowess. During the 2013 IPL season, Gayle unleashed an astonishing 59 sixes, setting a record that still stands tall today.
Rank | Player | Sixes | IPL Year |
1 | Chris Gayle (RCB) | 59 | 2012 |
2 | Andre Russell (KKR) | 52 | 2019 |
3 | Chris Gayle (RCB) | 51 | 2013 |
4 | Jos Buttler (RR) | 45 | 2022 |
5 | Chris Gayle (RCB) | 44 | 2011 |
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Who has hit most sixes in IPL history?
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