The IPL has so often proved to be a hunting ground for the big-hitters, an occasion for the power strikers to make their presence known. The shortest format of the game is often harsh and unrelenting on the bowlers and on flat indian wickets, lives up to the tag of being a batsman’s paradise. While the technically attractive players earn the accolades, the flair players who strike the ball out of the ground walk away with the headlines. SPORTZWIKI digs into the history books and presents to you the Top 5 Most sixes in an IPL innings.
5. Murali Vijay (11 sixes against Rajasthan Royals in 2010)
The Delhi Daredevils opener who has failed to make an impression for his current franchise possibly enjoyed his best spell in the yellow of CSK in the 2010 IPL season, his most notable innings being a cracking 127 off just 56 balls, which included 11 monstrous sixes in a relentless assault on the hapless Rajasthan bowling attack. It was Vijay’s career best IPL innings and earns him the 5th spot in SPORTZWIKI’s Top 5 Most sixes in an IPL innings.
4. Sanath Jayasuriya (11 sixes against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
The former Sri Lankan opener looked in devastating touch for Mumbai Indians in the inaugral season of the IPL, strutting his best stuff against the yellow army from Chennai as he smashed an impressive 114 off a mere 48 deliveries against MS Dhoni‘s men. The destructive assault of the Chennai bowling included 11 towering sixes, which takes Jayasuriya to the 4th spot in SPORTZWIKI’s Top 5 Most sixes in an IPL innings.
3. Chris Gayle (13 sixes against Delhi Daredevils in 2012)
By this time, you must already be wondering how could there be a countdown on the number of sixes that doesn’t include Chris Gayle? Well, this powerful Jamaican doesn’t disappoint you either as his innings of 128 not out against Delhi Daredevils in RCB colours earns him the 3rd spot in SPORTZWIKI’s Top 5 Most sixes in an IPL innings. Gayle looked in supreme touch throughout the campaign as he hit 733 runs in 14 innings, and his 13 sixes against Delhi stand out as his most destructive knock in IPL V.
2. Brendon McCullum (13 sixes against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2008)
Brendan McCullum ensured that the IPL instantly became a hit with the masses as his blazing knock of 158 off 73 deliveries kickstarted the IPL madness in the most fitting manner. The RCB attack looked short of ideas as McCullum managed to spread carnage at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore. The 13 sixes that he smashed takes McCullum to the 2nd spot in SPORTZWIKI’s Top 5 Most sixes in an IPL innings.
1. Chris Gayle (17 sixes against Pune Warriors India in 2013)
Chris Gayle tormented the Pune Warriors India bowling with a whirlwind of an innings – 175 off just 66 balls against the likes of Rahul Sharma and co. which included 17 sixes. The innings surpassed McCullum’s record for the highest score in IPL by any batsman and also the highest ever score in the T20 format. The innings earned Chris Gayle the nickname ‘Gayle storm’ and earns him the 1st spot in SPORTZWIKI’s Top 5 Most sixes in an IPL innings.