Cricket is a game of statistics, and there is perhaps no better statistic that puts fear in the minds of a bowler than the ability of a batsman to hit a six! In fact, the ability of a batsman to hit sixes often earns them a nickname!
Chris Gayle holds the record for hitting the most sixes in cricket history. Chris Gayle has hit a total of 534 sixes in international matches of which 331 sixes were in ODI matches, 105 sixes in T20i, and 98 sixes in Test Match cricket in his international career.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at the various six-hitting statistics in Cricket. A word of warning – this article is going to be a bit statistics-heavy. But, by the end of this post, you will surely take away some cool stats to show off!
So, buckle up your seat belts and let’s get started!
Most Sixes by a Batsman in Cricket
There are several players who have been known for destroying a bowling attack at their own will. But, in order to hit most sixes as a batsman throughout their career in cricket, not only does he need to have the ability to pack powerful hits, but also be technically sound and have the all-round capability to have a long career.
So, let’s look at the most sixes by a batsman in their cricket career.
Most Sixes by a Batsman in Cricket Career [Combined]
Let’s first look at the total sixes hit in all international matches that include ODI matches, test matches, and T20 matches.
| Rank | Batsman Name | Country | No. of Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 534 |
| 2 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 476 |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma | India | 426 |
| 4 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 398 |
| 5 | MS Dhoni | India | 359 |
It is important to note that Rohit Sharma is the only active player in the list of cricketers with most sixes as a batsman in international cricket.
Let’s take a look at most sixes by a batsman in each of the different forms of cricket –
Most Sixes by a Batsman in One Day International (ODI) Matches
You might think that the list of most sixes in ODI matches would be similar to the overall record. However, it is not the case.
Shahid Afridi has hit the most sixes as a batsman in One Day International (ODI) matches throughout his career.
While some batsmen like to hit sixes mostly in limited-overs cricket, others don’t limit their six-hitting ability to depend on the type of match.
Let’s take a look at who are the top 5 batsmen with most sixes in ODI matches –
| Rank | Batsman Name | Country | No. of Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 351 |
| 2 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 331 |
| 3 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 270 |
| 4 | Rohit Sharma | India | 244 |
| 5 | MS Dhoni | India | 229 |
When it comes to ODI matches, there is none better than “Boom Boom Afridi” at hitting sixes! That said, it is interesting to note that even though Afridi has been known mostly for his six hitting abilities, when it comes to average sixes per match, he doesn’t even come near the top the table!
Average Number of Sixes Per Match by a Batsman in One Day International (ODI) Matches
| Rank | Name | Country | No. of Sixes | ODI Matches | Sixes/Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kieron Pollard | West Indies | 125 | 113 | 1.11 |
| 2 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 331 | 301 | 1.10 |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma | India | 244 | 224 | 1.09 |
| 4 | Glenn Maxwell | Australia | 116 | 116 | 1.00 |
| 5 | Martin Guptil | New Zealand | 176 | 183 | 0.96 |
| 6 | Aaron Finch | Australia | 126 | 132 | 0.95 |
| 7 | Eoin Morgan | England | 218 | 242 | 0.90 |
| 8 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 204 | 228 | 0.89 |
| 9 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 351 | 398 | 0.88 |
| 10 | Paul Stirling | Ireland | 109 | 125 | 0.87 |
As you can notice from the above stats, it would be incorrect to consider Shahid Afridi the most destructive ODI batsman even though he has hit the maximum number of sixes.
In my opinion, Chris Gayle and Rohit Sharma are far more destructive as a batsman as they have hit more sixes on average per match than most other batsmen, and they have done that consistently!
Most Sixes by a Batsman in Test Match Cricket
Test Matches are usually a test of a batsman’s technical abilities. In a test match, a batsman is not tested based on his six-hitting prowess, rather on his ability to stay at the wicket longer and score runs. That said, some batsmen just prefer to score runs with sixes even in Test Matches. This would be evident from the below table!
Most sixes by a batsman in Test Match Cricket
| Rank | Batsman Name | Country | No. of Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 107 |
| 2 | Adam Gilchrist | Australia | 100 |
| 3 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 98 |
| 4 | Jack Kallis | South Africa | 97 |
| 5 | Virendra Sehwag | India | 91 |
As you may notice, Chris Gayle is the only batsman who consistently features in all the record related to most sixes in cricket. In my opinion, Chris Gayle is aptly termed as the “Universal Boss”!
Amongst the active cricketers, Ben Stokes is the highest-ranked batsman for hitting the most sixes in test matches. He currently ranks 14th on the all-time list (as of 31st March 2021). Other top-ranking active cricketers include – Tim Southee, Rohit Sharma, David Warner, and Stuart Broad!
Most Sixes by a Batsman in T20 International Cricket
T20 cricket is demands sixes from a batsman. In fact, many players have actually first been picked as a T20 cricketer and then promoted to other formats. So, let’s take a look at the record for most sixes by a batsman in T20i.
Most Sixes by a Batsman in T20i Matches
| Rank | Batsman Name | Country | No. of Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | India | 127 |
| 2 | Martin Guptil | New Zealand | 124 |
| 3 | Eoin Morgan | England | 113 |
| 4 | Colin Munro | New Zealand | 107 |
| 5 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 105 |
*Note – since T20 is still a newer format of cricket and the records are always evolving, we will try to update this records table at least once a year. You can view the latest stats by click on the “source” link at the bottom of the table. This information was last updated on 31st March 2021.
Record for Most Sixes in ODI Matches
While we have looked at the stats for most sixes by a batsman throughout their career in each of the three formats of the game, let’s take a look at each format individually. In the following stats, we shall take a look at the record for most sixes in a single match.
So, let’s dive right in!
Most Sixes by a Batsman in an Innings (ODI Match)
While a batsman may or may not have hit several sixes in their career, this record is quite unique as it shows the performance and control of a batsman during a single ODI match!
| S. No | Name (Country) | Sixes Hit | Runs Scored | Scorecard link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eoin Morgan (ENG) | 17 | 148 | ENG vs AFG |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma (IND) | 16 | 209 | IND vs AUS |
| 3 | AB de Villiers (SA) | 16 | 149 | SA vs WI |
| 4 | Chris Gayle (WI) | 16 | 215 | WI vs ZIM |
| 5 | Shane Watson (AUS) | 15 | 185* | AUS vs BAN |
As usual, Chris Gayle is a common feature to see in the six hitting records.
Most Sixes by a Team in an Innings (ODI Match)
There are occasions when an individual player almost single-handedly wins the match for the team. But, there have been some sensational ODI matches where there was an overall contribution for multiple players to secure the record for most sixes by a team in an ODI match!
Most Sixes by a Team in an Innings of an ODI Match
| S. No | Team | Sixes Hit | Opposition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | 25 | Afghanistan | Won |
| 2 | England | 24 | West Indies | Won |
| 3 | West Indies | 23 | England | Lost |
| 4 | New Zealand | 22 | West Indies | Won |
| 5 | West Indies | 22 | England | Lost |
It is interesting to note that both England and West Indies have hit more than 20 sixes in an innings twice. While England have won both their matches, West Indies have lost both their matches! Only one of the two matches were between the two teams.
Fun fact –
During the 1st ODI of England’s Tour of West Indies in 2019, West Indies secured the record by hitting 23 sixes against England while scoring 360/8 in the first innings. Even though England hit only 6 sixes, they managed to win the match comfortably with 8 balls to spare.
England then took the revenge in the 4th ODI of the same series by hitting 24 sixes and breaking the world record set by West Indies just a few matches ago! Even though West Indies tried hard by hitting 22 sixes in the 2nd innings of the same match, they fell 29 runs short!
Most Sixes hit in an ODI Match by Both Teams
When it comes to most sixes hit in an ODI match, the iconic “Australia vs South Africa” match first comes to mind. But, that is not the case!
England and West Indies hold the record for hitting most sixes in an ODI Match by both teams. During the 4th ODI match of England’s tour of West Indies in 2019, both teams managed to hit a total of 46 sixes in the match!
Most sixes hit in an ODI Match by Both Teams
| S. No | Team 1 | Team 2 | Total Sixes Hit | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | England (24) | West Indies (22) | 46 | England |
| 2 | India (19) | Australia (19) | 38 | India |
| 3 | England (25) | Afghanistan (8) | 33 | England |
| 4 | India (18) | New Zealand (13) | 31 | India |
| 5 | New Zealand (15) | West Indies (16) | 31 | New Zealand |
Record for Most Sixes in Test Matches
It is uncommon to see batsmen hit several sixes during a test match. But, at times, there have been occasions when unusually higher number of sixes were hit in a test match. So, let’s take a look at some of these unusual stats.
Most Sixes by a Player in an Innings (Test Match)
Let’s first take a look at the most sixes by a player in a single innings!
| S. No | Player Name | No. of Sixes | Runs Scored | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wasim Akram (PAK) | 12 | 257* | Zimbabwe |
| 2 | Nathan Astle (NZ) | 11 | 222 | England |
| 3 | Mathew Hayden (AUS) | 11 | 380 | Zimbabwe |
| 4 | Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 11 | 202 | Pakistan |
| 5 | Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 11 | 195 | Sri Lanka |
| 6 | Ben Stokes (ENG) | 11 | 258 | South Africa |
Rohit Sharma holds the record for hitting the most sixes (13) by a batsman in a Test Match. During a test match against South Africa, in Visakhapatnam in 2019, Rohit hit 6 sixes in the first innings and another 7 sixes in the second innings to hit a total of 13 sixes!
Most Sixes by a Team in an Innings of a Test Match
Here’s a list of most sixes hit by a single team in an innings of a test match –
| S. No | Team | No. of Sixes | Innings | Opposition | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealnd | 22 | 2nd | Pakistan | Won |
| 2 | Australia | 17 | 1st | Zimbabwe | Won |
| 3 | Pakistan | 15 | 1st | New Zealand | Won |
| 4 | India | 15 | 2nd | Sri Lanka | Won |
| 5 | South Africa | 15 | 1st | West Indies | Draw |
Most Sixes in a Test Match by Both Teams
Most Sixes hit in a Test Match by both teams is 37 by India and South Africa. During a test match between India and South Africa in Visakhapatnam in 2019, India hit a total of 27 sixes (13 in the 1st innings and 14 in the 2nd), whereas South Africa hit 10 sixes (7 in 1st innings and 3 in the 2nd).
Even though New Zealand holds the record for hitting most sixes in an innings, that test match against Pakistan doesn’t hold the record for the highest number of sixes by both teams.
Let’s take a look in detail –
| S. No | Team 1 | Team 2 | Sixes | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India (27) | South Africa (10) | 37 | India |
| 2 | New Zealand (22) | Pakistan (13) | 35 | New Zealand |
| 3 | Pakistan (18) | India (9) | 27 | Draw |
| 4 | New Zealand (17) | Bangladesh (10) | 27 | Draw |
| 5 | Bangladesh (12) | New Zealand (12) | 24 | New Zealand |
Now let’s move on to the most exciting format of international cricket – T20!
Record for Most Sixes in T20 Matches
It is quite obvious that the most number of sixes are seen in the shortest format of the game i.e. T20 internationals. However, since T20 has only been a recent addition, the total number of sixes records haven’t yet reached the levels that it can’t be broken.
That said, let’s take a look at some of the records for sixes in T20 cricket matches.
Most Sixes By a Batsman in an Innings (T20 Match)
Hitting sixes in a T20 match is not an uncommon sight. In fact, you perhaps would be surprised by the number of sixes a batsman may hit in such a short format of a the game.
Overall, Chris Gayle holds the record for hitting 18 sixes in a single T20 innings while playing for Rangpur Riders against Dhaka Dynamites. However, Hazratullah Zazai of Afghanistan holds the record for hitting 16 sixes in a single international T20 innings against Ireland.
Here’s the list of Players who hit most sixes in an innings of a T20 international cricket match –
| S. No | Player Name | Opposition | No. of Sixes | Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hazratullah Zazai (AFG) | Ireland | 16 | 162* (62) |
| 2 | Aaron Finch (AUS) | England | 14 | 156 (63) |
| 3 | George Munsey (SCO) | Netherlands | 14 | 127* (56) |
| 4 | Richard Levi (SA) | New Zealand | 13 | 117* (51) |
| 5 | Evan Lewis (WI) | India | 12 | 125* (62) |
It is interesting to note that Chris Gayle doesn’t feature in the top 5 in this list although he is ranked 6th and 7th on the list 11 & 10 sixes respectively.
It is important to note that the above list only indicates international T20 matches and doesn’t include and domestic T20 series.
Most Sixes by a Team in an Innings (T20 Match)
Here’s a list of most sixes hit by a team in an innings of a T20 match –
| S. No | Team | Sixes Hit | Final Score | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Afghanistan | 22 | 278/3 | Ireland |
| 2 | West Indies | 21 | 245/6 | India |
| 3 | India | 21 | 260/5 | Sri Lanka |
| 4 | Scotland | 20 | 252/3 | Netherlands |
| 5 | Netherlands | 19 | 193/4 | Ireland |
Note – only international T20 cricket matches have been considered for the above table.
It is interesting to note that the record list for most sixes in an innings often contains a lot of teams from domestic leagues. Perhaps, it is not surprising to as the most T20 matches are played within the domestic circuits.
Most Sixes in a Single T20 Cricket Match (by Both Teams)
In order to be on the top of the list of this record, it requires not one but both the teams to hit plenty of sixes during a cricket match.
Here’s the list of most sixes by both teams in a T20 Cricket Match –
| S. No | Team 1 | Team 2 | Total Sixes | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Indies (21) | India (11) | 32 | West Indies |
| 2 | New Zealand (18) | Australia (14) | 32 | Australia |
| 3 | India (21) | Sri Lanka (10) | 31 | India |
| 4 | Ireland (11) | Netherlands (19) | 30 | Netherlands |
| 5 | Afghanistan (22) | Ireland (8) | 30 | Afghanistan |
As you may notice, there have been two matches witnessing the most sixes in a T20 international match.
Other Interesting Stats
Here are some other interesting stats about most sixes by a player in Cricket –
Most Sixes by a Player as a Captain in Cricket
Eoin Morgan of England holds the record for hitting most sixes as a captain in all formats. He has hit a total of 222 sixes in 171 matches as captain.
Here’s a list of Top 5 players who have hit most sixes as a captain in Cricket –
| S. No | Player Name | Country | No. of Sixes as Captain | No. of Matches as Captain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eoin Morgan | England | 222 | 171 |
| 2 | MS Dhoni | India | 211 | 332 |
| 3 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 171 | 324 |
| 4 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 170 | 121 |
| 5 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 135 | 124 |
Most Sixes by a Wicketkeeper in Cricket
Next on the list is the most sixes by a wicketkeeper in cricket.
Brendon McCullum of New Zealand holds the record for hitting most sixes as a wicketkeeper in Cricket. He has hit 398 sixes in his career.
Here’s a list of most sixes hit by a Wicketkeeper in their career in Cricket –
| S. No | Player Name | Country | No. of Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 398 |
| 2 | MS Dhoni | India | 359 |
| 3 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 328 |
| 4 | Adam Gilchrist | Australia | 262 |
| 5 | Jos Butler | England | 222 |
The above totals are combines sixes that the players have hit across all the three formats of the game. The list also includes the matches where a player was also selected purely as a batsman.
Most Sixes by a Player in World Cup
When it comes to the World Cup, it often brings out the best in a player! Let’s take a look at which players like to go big when playing in a world cup!
Most Sixes by a Player in ODI World Cups
| S. No | Player Name | Country | Total Sixes | No. of World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 49 | 5 |
| 2 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 37 | 3 |
| 3 | Ricky Ponting | Australia | 31 | 5 |
| 4 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 29 | 4 |
| 5 | Herschelle Gibbs | South Africa | 28 | 3 |
India’s Sachin Tendulkar holds joint 6th rank with Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya for hitting 27 sixes. While Sachin has played 6 World Cups, Sanath Jayasuriya has participated in 5 World Cups.
It is interesting to note that Chris Gayle also holds the record of hitting the most sixes (26) in a single edition of a World Cup in 2015 edition. England’s Eoin Morgan holds the second position when he hit 22 sixes in the 2019 edition of the ODI World Cup.
Most Sixes by a Player in T20 World Cups
Chris Gayle holds the record for hitting most sixes in T20 World Cups. He has hit a total of 60 sixes in 28 matches that he has played over 6 editions of T20 World Cups.
| S. No | Player Name | Country | Total Sixes | No. of World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 60 | 6 |
| 2 | Yuvraj Singh | India | 33 | 6 |
| 3 | Shane Watson | Australia | 31 | 6 |
| 4 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 30 | 6 |
| 5 | Mahela Jayawardena | Sri Lanka | 25 | 5 |
Most Sixes by a Batsman in IPL
Chris Gayle holds the record for hitting 349 sixes – the most sixes by a batsman in IPL history.
| S. No | Player Name | No. of Sixes | Total Matches | Sixes/Match (Avg.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | 349 | 132 | 2.64 |
| 2 | AB de Villiers | 235 | 169 | 1.39 |
| 3 | MS Dhoni | 216 | 204 | 1.06 |
| 4 | Rohit Sharma | 213 | 200 | 1.07 |
| 5 | Virat Kohli | 201 | 192 | 1.05 |
It is surprise that Chris Gayle tops the list of most sixes hit in IPL! In fact, the rate at which he hits sixes in IPL is almost twice more than the nearest competitor of the top 5 players to have hit most sixes!
Most Sixes in a Single Edition of IPL
Chris Gayle also holds the record for hitting most sixes in a single edition of IPL. Chris Gayle hit 59 sixes in the 2012 edition of IPL.
| S. No | Player Name | Team | Total Sixes | IPL Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | RCB | 59 | 2012 |
| 2 | Andre Russell | KKR | 52 | 2019 |
| 3 | Chris Gayle | RCB | 51 | 2013 |
| 4 | Chris Gayle | RCB | 44 | 2011 |
| 5 | Chris Gayle | KXIP | 38 | 2014 |
Chris Gayle holds the top 5 positions for most sixes in a single edition of an IPL. Andre Russell, who hit 52 sixes in 2019 edition of IPL, holds the second position. Virat Kolhi (38), AB de Villiers (37), and Rishab Pant (37) are the only other players to feature in the top 10 list. Chris Gayle also appears once again in the top 10 list.
Top 5 India Batsman with Most Sixes in Cricket Career (Combined)
Rohit Sharma tops the list of most sixes hit by Indian batsman in International Cricket. He has hit 426 sixes.
| S. No | Player Name | No. of Sixes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | 426 |
| 2 | MS Dhoni | 359 |
| 3 | Sachin Tendulkar | 264 |
| 4 | Yuvraj Singh | 251 |
| 5 | Sourav Ganguly | 247 |
Rohit Sharma is also the only active player amongst the top 5 Indian batsman to hit most sixes.
Top 5 English Batsman with Most Sixes in Cricket Career (Combined)
Eoin Morgan holds the record for hitting the most sixes by an English batsman in Cricket. He has hit 337 sixes in 355 matches.
Here’s a complete list of top 5 english batsman to hit most sixes in Cricket –
| S. No | Player Name | No. of Sixes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eoin Morgan | 337 |
| 2 | Jos Butler | 222 |
| 3 | Kevin Peterson | 190 |
| 4 | Andrew Flintoff | 177 |
| 5 | Ben Stokes | 169 |
Top 5 Australian Batsman with Most Sixes in Cricket Career (Combined)
Adam Gilchrist holds the record for most sixes by an Australian batsman in Cricket. He has hit a total of 262 sixes.
| S. No | Player Name | No. of Sixes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adam Gilchrist | 262 |
| 2 | Ricky Ponting | 246 |
| 3 | Shane Watson | 245 |
| 4 | David Warner | 230 |
| 5 | Aaron Finch | 224 |
David Warner and Aaron Finch are the only active players amongst the top 5 list mentioned above. Adam Gilchrist’s record may not hold for long going by the hectic cricketing schedule.