The Indian Premier League has produced some of the most destructive power-hitters in T20 cricket. Over the years, batters such as Chris Gayle, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, AB de Villiers and Andre Russell have entertained fans with enormous sixes and match-winning innings.
But who has hit the most sixes in IPL history? Which player has smashed the most sixes in an IPL innings? Who holds the record for the most sixes in an IPL season? And which Indian batter has cleared the boundary most often?
As of the end of IPL 2026, Chris Gayle remains the leading six-hitter in IPL history with 357 sixes. Rohit Sharma is next among the leading batters, while Virat Kohli is also among the closest active-era challengers.
IPL 2026, however, produced a major change in the record book. Rajasthan Royals’ teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit 72 sixes in 16 matches, breaking Chris Gayle’s previous record of 59 sixes in a single IPL season. He also helped Rajasthan Royals set a new team record with 181 sixes in one season.
This guide covers the most important IPL six-hitting records, including career, innings, season, Indian-player, team and match records.
Most Sixes in IPL History
Chris Gayle is the player with the most sixes in IPL history. The West Indies batting legend finished his IPL career with 357 sixes.
Gayle’s record is particularly impressive because he achieved it in 141 innings. He played for Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings during his IPL career, with his most memorable period coming with RCB.
Rohit Sharma is among the closest challengers to Gayle’s record. Virat Kohli follows him closely, while MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers also feature prominently on the all-time list.
Players With the Most Sixes in IPL History
| Rank | Player | IPL Sixes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | 357 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | 319 |
| 3 | Virat Kohli | 306 |
| 4 | MS Dhoni | 264 |
| 5 | AB de Villiers | 251 |
| 6 | Sanju Samson | 243 |
| 7 | KL Rahul | 239 |
| 8 | David Warner | 236 |
| 9 | Kieron Pollard | 223 |
| 10 | Andre Russell | 223 |
Career totals can differ slightly between statistical databases because of data-update timing and treatment of certain matches. The figures above use the latest available IPL career record data.
1. Chris Gayle – 357 Sixes
Chris Gayle is still the undisputed leader for most sixes in IPL history.
Known as the “Universe Boss”, Gayle combined immense strength with an unusually high-quality ability to hit the ball cleanly. His IPL career included several extraordinary innings, but his 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors India in 2013 remains the most famous.
That innings contained 17 sixes and 13 fours, making it one of the greatest individual displays of power hitting in T20 cricket.
2. Rohit Sharma – 319 Sixes
Rohit Sharma is one of the greatest six-hitters India has produced in T20 cricket.
The Mumbai Indians captain has built his IPL six tally over a remarkably long career. His ability to attack both pace and spin, particularly through the middle and leg side, has made him one of the tournament’s most consistent boundary hitters.
Rohit also has the distinction of being the Indian player with the most sixes in IPL history.
3. Virat Kohli – 306 Sixes
Virat Kohli has also crossed the 300-six mark in the IPL.
Kohli’s career is different from that of Gayle because he has combined boundary hitting with exceptional running between the wickets and consistency. He has played his entire IPL career for Royal Challengers Bengaluru and has become one of the tournament’s most prolific run-scorers.
His six-hitting has also increased significantly during the later stages of his IPL career.
Who Has Hit the Most Sixes in IPL?
Chris Gayle has hit the most sixes in IPL history, with 357 sixes.
The former West Indies opener remains ahead of every other player despite having retired from IPL cricket. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are the leading Indian names near the top of the list.
Gayle’s record is even more impressive when his relatively low number of IPL innings compared with some modern players is considered.
Most Sixes by an Indian in IPL
Rohit Sharma holds the record for the most sixes by an Indian in IPL history.
He has hit 319 sixes, putting him ahead of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni among Indian batters.
Most Sixes by Indian Players in IPL
| Rank | Indian Player | Sixes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | 319 |
| 2 | Virat Kohli | 306 |
| 3 | MS Dhoni | 264 |
| 4 | Sanju Samson | 243 |
| 5 | KL Rahul | 239 |
| 6 | Suresh Raina | 203 |
| 7 | Shreyas Iyer | 182 |
| 8 | Robin Uthappa | 182 |
| 9 | Rishabh Pant | 181 |
| 10 | Suryakumar Yadav | 178 |
Rohit’s position at the top reflects his exceptional longevity and power-hitting ability. Virat Kohli is the closest Indian challenger, while the gap between the two has remained relatively small compared with the difference between them and several players lower down the list.
Most Sixes in an IPL Innings
The record for the most sixes in an IPL innings belongs to Chris Gayle.
Gayle smashed 17 sixes while scoring 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors India on April 23, 2013.
The innings came from just 66 deliveries and remains the highest individual score in IPL history.
Most Sixes in an IPL Innings
| Rank | Player | Runs | Sixes | Team | Opposition | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | 175* | 17 | RCB | PWI | 2013 |
| 2 | Brendon McCullum | 158* | 13 | KKR | RCB | 2008 |
| 3 | Chris Gayle | 128* | 13 | RCB | DD | 2012 |
| 4 | Chris Gayle | 117 | 12 | RCB | KXIP | 2015 |
| 5 | AB de Villiers | 129* | 12 | RCB | GL | 2016 |
| 6 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 103 | 12 | RR | SRH | 2026 |
| 7 | Murali Vijay | 127 | 11 | CSK | RR | 2010 |
| 8 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 114* | 11 | MI | CSK | 2008 |
| 9 | Andre Russell | 88* | 11 | KKR | CSK | 2018 |
Gayle therefore occupies three of the top positions in the list, highlighting just how destructive he could be when he found his rhythm.
Chris Gayle’s 17-Six Record
Gayle’s 175* is still regarded as one of the most remarkable innings in IPL history.
He reached his century in only 30 balls and finished with 17 sixes. Those maximums alone contributed 102 runs to his final score.
More than a decade later, no player has managed to surpass his 17-six mark in an IPL innings.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi came close to the record in 2026, hitting 12 sixes during his 103-run innings against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Most Sixes in an IPL Season
The record for the most sixes in a single IPL season now belongs to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The Rajasthan Royals opener hit 72 sixes in IPL 2026, breaking Chris Gayle’s previous record of 59 sixes for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2012.
Most Sixes in an IPL Season
| Rank | Player | Team | Season | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Rajasthan Royals | 2026 | 72 |
| 2 | Chris Gayle | RCB | 2012 | 59 |
| 3 | Andre Russell | KKR | 2019 | 52 |
| 4 | Chris Gayle | RCB | 2013 | 51 |
| 5 | Abhishek Sharma | SRH | 2024 | 42 |
| 6 | Jos Buttler | Rajasthan Royals | 2022 | 45 |
| 7 | Rishabh Pant | Delhi Capitals | 2018 | 37 |
| 8 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 2016 | 38 |
| 9 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 2024 | 38 |
| 10 | Glenn Maxwell | Punjab Kings | 2014 | 36 |
The ordering of close totals should be checked against the final statistical database used by the publisher; the key record is Sooryavanshi’s 72 sixes in 2026.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Record-Breaking 2026
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 2026 season changed the IPL six-hitting record book.
The 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals batter finished the tournament with 776 runs from 16 matches and 72 sixes. His strike rate was above 237, making the campaign one of the most explosive individual seasons ever seen in the IPL.
He broke Gayle’s 59-six record during Rajasthan Royals’ Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Earlier in the same season, Sooryavanshi had already broken the record for the most sixes by an Indian in a single IPL edition, passing Abhishek Sharma’s previous mark of 42 sixes from IPL 2024.
Most Sixes in a Single IPL Match
The phrase most sixes in a single IPL match can mean either the most sixes hit by one player or the combined number hit by both teams.
For a single player, Chris Gayle holds the record with 17 sixes.
For both teams combined, the IPL record is 33 sixes in one match.
The 33-six mark was first recorded in the 2018 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings. RCB hit 16 sixes while CSK responded with 17.
Matches With 33 Sixes
| Match | Season | Combined Sixes |
|---|---|---|
| RCB vs CSK | 2018 | 33 |
| RR vs CSK | 2020 | 33 |
| RCB vs CSK | 2023 | 33 |
These matches demonstrate how dramatically an IPL game can change when both teams adopt an aggressive batting approach.
The RCB vs CSK match in 2018 was particularly memorable. RCB posted 205/8, but CSK chased the target successfully, with MS Dhoni and Ambati Rayudu playing major roles.
Most Sixes in IPL by Team
When discussing most sixes in IPL by team, it is important to distinguish between an all-time franchise total and the record for one season.
Franchise totals change every year as players add more sixes, so the more useful record for comparing team power-hitting is often the number of sixes hit in a single season.
The current record belongs to Rajasthan Royals, who hit 181 sixes in IPL 2026.
Most Sixes by a Team in a Single IPL Season
| Rank | Team | Season | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rajasthan Royals | 2026 | 181 |
| 2 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2024 | 178 |
| 3 | Punjab Kings | 2025 | 173 |
| 4 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 2026 | 171 |
| 5 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | 2024 | 165 |
Rajasthan Royals’ record is particularly impressive because their sixes came from several different batters rather than a single player.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the biggest contributor with 72 sixes, while Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira and Riyan Parag also provided significant power in the batting order.
Rajasthan Royals’ 181 Sixes in IPL 2026
Rajasthan Royals produced the highest team six tally in a single IPL season in 2026.
Their total of 181 sixes surpassed Sunrisers Hyderabad’s previous mark of 178 set in 2024.
The major contributors included:
| Player | Sixes |
|---|---|
| Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 72 |
| Dhruv Jurel | 24 |
| Donovan Ferreira | 23 |
| Riyan Parag | 21 |
This is a good example of how modern IPL teams build batting line-ups around multiple six-hitters.
A team does not need one player to hit an enormous number of sixes if several batters are capable of attacking throughout the innings.
Most Sixes in IPL 2026
IPL 2026 produced the highest number of sixes in a single IPL season.
A total of 1,426 sixes were hit during the tournament, surpassing the previous record of 1,294 sixes in 2025.
IPL 2026 Most Sixes
| Rank | Player | Team | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | RR | 72 |
| 2 | Abhishek Sharma | SRH | 43 |
| 3 | Rajat Patidar | RCB | 42 |
| 4 | Ryan Rickelton | MI | 38 |
| 5 | Mitchell Marsh | LSG | 36 |
| 6 | Shubman Gill | GT | 33 |
| 7 | Ishan Kishan | SRH | 32 |
| 8 | Cooper Connolly | PBKS | 32 |
| 9 | Priyansh Arya | PBKS | 32 |
| 10 | Heinrich Klaasen | SRH | 31 |
Sooryavanshi’s 72 sixes were 29 more than the second-placed Abhishek Sharma.
That gap shows just how extraordinary his 2026 campaign was.
Which IPL Season Had the Most Sixes?
IPL 2026 had the most sixes in IPL history, with 1,426 sixes.
The tournament has experienced a major increase in six-hitting over the last few years.
IPL Seasons With the Most Sixes
| Season | Total Sixes |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 1,426 |
| 2025 | 1,294 |
| 2024 | 1,260 |
| 2023 | 1,124 |
| 2022 | 1,062 |
The IPL crossed the 1,000-six mark for the first time in 2022. Since then, every season in this five-season period has produced more than 1,000 sixes.
This trend shows how modern T20 batting has shifted towards high-risk, high-reward cricket.
Why Are More Sixes Being Hit in the IPL?
The increase in sixes is not the result of one single factor. Several tactical and technical changes have made aggressive batting a central part of IPL cricket.
Aggressive Powerplay Batting
Modern opening batters are far more willing to attack during the first six overs.
Rather than simply looking to preserve wickets, teams often target the powerplay as an opportunity to score quickly while only two fielders are allowed outside the inner circle.
Deeper Batting Line-Ups
IPL teams increasingly have specialist hitters lower down the order.
A batter can therefore play with greater freedom because the team has another capable player waiting at the other end of the batting order.
Improved Batting Techniques
Modern batters have developed a wider range of scoring shots.
Ramp shots, scoops, pick-up shots and lofted drives allow players to attack different areas of the field and turn deliveries that were once defensive balls into boundary opportunities.
Data-Driven Match Strategy
Franchises now use extensive statistical analysis to identify favourable match-ups.
Batters may specifically target particular bowlers, while teams can plan when to attack spin, pace or certain lengths.
Shorter Boundaries at Some Venues
Ground dimensions also influence six-hitting.
Certain IPL venues have relatively short boundaries, allowing powerful batters to clear the ropes with less effort than would be required on larger grounds.
Chris Gayle vs Rohit Sharma vs Virat Kohli
The three names most closely associated with the IPL’s career six-hitting record are Chris Gayle, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
| Player | Sixes | Main Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Gayle | 357 | Extreme power |
| Rohit Sharma | 319 | Timing and power |
| Virat Kohli | 306 | Timing, placement and controlled aggression |
Gayle remains comfortably ahead in career sixes, but Rohit and Kohli have accumulated their totals over much longer IPL careers.
Gayle’s record is therefore notable not only because of the total number of sixes but also because of the rate at which he could clear the boundary.
Who Is the Sixer King of IPL?
Chris Gayle is widely regarded as the Sixer King of the IPL.
He holds the record for the most career sixes with 357 and the record for the most sixes in an IPL innings with 17.
For many years, he also held the record for the most sixes in a single IPL season, with 59 in 2012.
That particular record has now been taken by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who hit 72 sixes in IPL 2026.
Sooryavanshi’s record-breaking season means the IPL’s six-hitting hierarchy is beginning to change, but Gayle remains the benchmark for career power hitting.
Most Sixes in IPL: Key Records at a Glance
| Record | Player/Team | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Most sixes in IPL history | Chris Gayle | 357 |
| Most sixes by an Indian | Rohit Sharma | 319 |
| Most sixes in an IPL innings | Chris Gayle | 17 |
| Most sixes in an IPL season | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 72 |
| Most sixes by an Indian in one season | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 72 |
| Most sixes by a team in one season | Rajasthan Royals | 181 |
| Most sixes in one IPL match, combined | RCB vs CSK / RR vs CSK / RCB vs CSK | 33 |
| Most sixes in IPL 2026 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 72 |
| Most sixes in one IPL season overall | IPL 2026 | 1,426 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has hit the most sixes in IPL history?
Who has hit the most sixes in an IPL innings?
Who has hit the most sixes in a single IPL season?
Who has hit the most sixes by an Indian in IPL?
Which team has hit the most sixes in one IPL season?
Which IPL match had the most sixes?
Who is the Sixer King of IPL?
How many sixes did Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit in IPL 2026?
Which IPL season had the most sixes?
Conclusion
The most sixes in IPL history record still belongs to Chris Gayle, who finished his IPL career with 357 maximums. His combination of power, timing and consistency made him the defining six-hitter of the early IPL era.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have established themselves as the leading Indian six-hitters, with both crossing the 300-six mark. MS Dhoni, AB de Villiers, Sanju Samson and KL Rahul are also among the tournament’s most prolific boundary hitters.
However, IPL 2026 introduced a new name to the top of the season record book. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit 72 sixes for Rajasthan Royals, comfortably breaking Gayle’s previous single-season record of 59. Rajasthan Royals also set a new team benchmark with 181 sixes.
The tournament itself produced 1,426 sixes in 2026, the highest total in an IPL season.
Chris Gayle therefore remains the career Sixer King, but the record books are changing rapidly. With young power-hitters such as Sooryavanshi emerging, the IPL could see several long-standing six-hitting records challenged in the seasons ahead.