Since its inception, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has witnessed an abundance of sixes being hit for entertainment. With each passing season, the number of sixes has increased significantly, with players such as Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Rohit Sharma, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Andre Russell consistently topping the charts.
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Most Sixes in An IPL Season
In the 2018 season, a total of 872 maximums were struck, marking the highest record for a single IPL season at that time. However, both IPL 2022 and IPL 2023 surpassed this milestone, with each season witnessing over 1000 sixes. Notably, IPL 2023 also saw a new record set for the most sixes, in match 70 with over 1100 sixes.
With an increase in the number of matches, there is a strong possibility of more sixes being hit in the coming years. This trend can be attributed to the smaller grounds and flat, unforgiving wickets that challenge the bowlers.
The ongoing IPL 2024 season has already kicked off with a bang, witnessing over 50 maximums in the initial matches. Key players like Liam Livingstone, Andre Russell, and Heinrich Klaasen have already made their mark.
With many other power hitters such as Rovman Powell, Rohit Sharma, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Nicholas Pooran, and others yet to showcase their prowess, it’s plausible that the 1000-mark for sixes could once again be surpassed this season.
Here’s a breakdown of the total number of sixes hit in each IPL season:
| Season | Total Sixes | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 622 | 59 |
| 2009 | 506 | 59 |
| 2010 | 585 | 60 |
| 2011 | 639 | 74 |
| 2012 | 731 | 76 |
| 2013 | 672 | 76 |
| 2014 | 714 | 60 |
| 2015 | 692 | 60 |
| 2016 | 638 | 60 |
| 2017 | 705 | 60 |
| 2018 | 872 | 60 |
| 2019 | 784 | 60 |
| 2020 | 734 | 60 |
| 2021 | 687 | 60 |
| 2022 | 1062 | 74 |
| 2023 | 1124 | 74 |
| 2024* | 101 | 6 |
*Note: The data for IPL 2024 is incomplete as the season is ongoing.
Top 5 Players With Most Sixes in An IPL Season
Gayle, leading the charts for the most sixes in IPL history, maintains his dominance as the player with the highest number of sixes in each IPL season. Both Gayle and his compatriot Russell are the sole individuals to have surpassed the 50-sixes milestone in a single season, with Gayle achieving this feat at least twice.
In recent years, players such as Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Jos Buttler, and Faf Du Plessis have emerged as top performers in terms of hitting sixes. However, with several formidable hitters in prime form this year, there is potential for the 50-sixes mark to be breached once again in IPL 2024.
5. Chris Gayle – 44 Sixes in 2011
Chris Gayle is widely regarded as the greatest batsman ever to have played Twenty20 cricket. He has dominated the format with his aggressive batting style and his ability to clear the boundaries with ease.Gayle holds numerous records in T20 cricket, including the most runs (over 14,000) and most sixes (over 1,000) by a batsman. He also has the highest individual score in T20 cricket – a staggering 175* for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2013 IPL.
4. Jos Butler – 45 Sixes in 2022
Jos Buttler was on fire in the IPL 2022 season. He piled up the 2nd most runs ever in an IPL season (863) and smashed a record-tying 4 centuries. This run-scoring spree made him the tournament’s top scorer (Orange Cap) and earned him several other awards including most sixes and most fours. His explosive batting was a key factor in Rajasthan Royals reaching the IPL finals.
3. Chris Gayle – 51 Sixes in 2013
Gayle was unstoppable in the 2013 IPL. He smashed the record for the highest individual T20 score with a mind-blowing 175* runs, including the fastest ever T20 century at the time. He was a six-hitting machine, setting the record for most sixes in an IPL innings (17). While this knock stole the show, Gayle remained a consistent scorer throughout the season, amassing over 700 runs for RCB.
2. Andre Russel – 52 Sixes in 2019
Andre Russell was a bright spot for Kolkata Knight Riders in their tough IPL 2019 season. He dominated with the bat, being their top scorer with over 510 runs at a blistering strike rate of over 204 (highest that season for KKR). He even emerged as their leading wicket-taker, showcasing his all-round ability. This well-rounded performance earned him the prestigious IPL Player of the Tournament award in 2019.
1. Chris Gayle – 59 Sixes in 2012
Gayle was a six-hitting machine in IPL 2012, leading the tournament with a whopping 59 sixes. He was a consistent run-scorer as well, amassing a massive 733 runs, although this was surpassed by his record-breaking performance in 2013. This impressive total even put him in contention for the Orange Cap.
Below is a breakdown of the season-wise list of players with the most sixes.
| Season | Player | Team | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Mumbai Indians | 31 |
| 2009 | Adam Gilchrist | Deccan Chargers | 29 |
| 2010 | Robin Uthappa | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 27 |
| 2011 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 44 |
| 2012 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 59 |
| 2013 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 51 |
| 2014 | Glenn Maxwell | Punjab Kings | 36 |
| 2015 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 38 |
| 2016 | Virat Kohli | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 38 |
| 2017 | Glenn Maxwell | Punjab Kings | 26 |
| 2018 | Rishabh Pant | Delhi Capitals | 37 |
| 2019 | Andre Russell | Kolkata Knight Riders | 52 |
| 2020 | Ishan Kishan | Mumbai Indians | 30 |
| 2021 | KL Rahul | Punjab Kings | 30 |
| 2022 | Jos Buttler | Rajasthan Royals | 45 |
| 2023 | Faf Du Plessis | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 36 |
| 2024* | Heinrich Klaasen | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 8 |
*Note: The data for IPL 2024 is incomplete as the season is ongoing. The information will be updated regularly until the final on May 26, following the completion of each match.
