Most Sixes in an Innings in IPL: Top Records (2008–2026)

In T20 cricket, the six is the most exciting shot in the game. One clean hit over the ropes brings the crowd to its feet. The IPL has seen some of the most brutal six-hitting ever witnessed in cricket. Batters clear the boundary for fun in this league, and a few special knocks have produced a shower of maximums.

The biggest six-hitting innings in IPL history came in 2013, when Chris Gayle launched 17 sixes in a single knock. That record has stood for more than ten years. In 2026, young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed 12 sixes in an innings twice, showing that the next generation is ready to challenge the old marks.

This article ranks the most sixes hit in a single IPL innings with a complete top 10 table, lists the top six-hitting knocks by Indian batters, answers the most asked questions about the record, and covers all the big updates from the 2026 season.

Who Hit the Most Sixes in an IPL Innings?

The answer is Chris Gayle, and it is not even close. In April 2013, Gayle smashed 17 sixes in one innings for Bengaluru against Pune Warriors. The next best in IPL history is 13 sixes, which means Gayle holds the record by a gap of four maximums. That gap shows how far ahead of everyone else that knock was.

Gayle finished unbeaten on 175 from just 66 balls in that match. Along with the 17 sixes, he hit 13 fours. Bengaluru posted 263 for 5 and won the game by 130 runs. It remains the most destructive batting display the league has ever seen.

Most Sixes in an IPL Innings – Top 10 List

Clearing the ropes again and again in one innings needs a rare mix of power, timing and courage. Most batters are happy with three or four sixes in a knock. The players in the table below went far beyond that. These are the ten most six-packed innings in IPL history.

Chris Gayle appears four times in the top 10, which tells its own story about his six-hitting genius. The 2026 season added a new name to the list with two entries from the teenage sensation Sooryavanshi.

1. Chris Gayle – 17 sixes vs Pune Warriors, 2013

Gayle walked out to open the batting and never looked back. He reached his hundred in 30 balls, still the fastest century in IPL history. By the end of the innings, he had launched 17 balls over the ropes. Bowlers tried yorkers, bouncers and slower balls, but nothing worked on that famous night in Bengaluru.

2. Brendon McCullum – 13 sixes vs RCB, 2008

The 13 sixes by McCullum came in the first-ever IPL match, a fearless knock that introduced T20 batting to the world. His unbeaten 158 set the tone for the entire league. For five years, no batter came within four sixes of this mark. It took the Universe Boss to finally go past it.

3. Chris Gayle – 13 sixes vs Delhi Daredevils, 2012

A year before his record knock, Gayle had already shown what was coming. His unbeaten 128 against Delhi included 13 massive sixes. The Delhi bowlers had no answers as the ball kept sailing into the stands. It was a warning sign of the destruction to follow in 2013.

4. AB de Villiers – 12 sixes vs Gujarat Lions, 2016

The 12 sixes by de Villiers came in a breathtaking unbeaten 129 against Gujarat Lions. Known as Mr 360 for his all-round strokeplay, de Villiers found parts of the ground that fielders could not protect. His 52-ball knock remains one of the most skilful big-hitting displays in the league.

5. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – 12 sixes vs SRH, 2026

The 15-year-old announced himself on the big stage with a stunning 12-six innings against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2026. He repeated the feat later in the same season, becoming the first Indian to hit 12 sixes in an IPL innings. His fearless hitting broke a 14-year-old season record with 72 sixes across the year.

How Many Sixes Did Chris Gayle Hit in His 175*?

Gayle hit 17 sixes and 13 fours in his unbeaten 175 against Pune Warriors in 2013. That means 102 of his 175 runs came from sixes alone, with another 52 from boundaries. Only 21 runs came from running between the wickets. It was pure power-hitting from start to finish.

To put 17 sixes in perspective, most batters do not hit 17 sixes in an entire IPL season. Gayle did it in 66 balls. The record has now survived more than a decade, and no batter has even reached 14.

What Is the Most Sixes by an Indian in an IPL Innings?

The record for the most sixes by an Indian batter in one IPL innings belongs to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who smashed 12 sixes against Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2026. Before him, Murali Vijay held the Indian record with 11 sixes for Chennai against Rajasthan in 2010. Here are the top six-hitting knocks by Indian batters:

Vijay’s 127 at Chepauk was special because that ground has some of the longest boundaries in India. Sooryavanshi has now taken Indian six-hitting to a new level, and at his age, the record could go even higher in the coming seasons.

Most Sixes in an IPL Innings in 2026

The 2026 season belonged to the six-hitters, led by the teenage star Sooryavanshi. He smashed 12 sixes in an innings twice against Sunrisers Hyderabad, a first for an Indian batter. His season tally of 72 sixes broke the 14-year-old record of Chris Gayle. The future of IPL power-hitting looks brighter than ever.

Why Is the 17-Sixes Record So Hard to Break?

Hitting 17 sixes means clearing the ropes almost once every four balls for the entire innings. The batter must stay unbeaten, keep finding the middle of the bat, and never lose shape for 20 overs. One mistimed shot can end the charge. That is why more than ten years have passed without anyone reaching even 14.

Modern batters are getting stronger and bats are getting better, so the record will come under threat one day. The back-to-back 12-six knocks by Sooryavanshi in 2026 show the next generation is not afraid. But 17 remains a mountain that needs a perfect storm to climb.

Conclusion

The 17 sixes by Chris Gayle remain the gold standard of IPL power-hitting, untouched for over a decade. Brendon McCullum set the early benchmark, AB de Villiers brought artistry to the list, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is carrying the torch for the new era. The race to 17 continues, and this page will track every big-hitting knock that joins the chase.

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