Chris Gayle leads the most sixes in IPL history with 357 maximums from 142 matches between 2009 and 2021 — a record that has stood untouched since his retirement. Rohit Sharma sits second on 310 sixes, with Virat Kohli at 306 closing in. Ten players have crossed the 200-six mark in IPL history, and the 2026 season is producing a new contender every week — 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has already become the fastest player ever to 100 IPL sixes. Here’s the complete top 10 all-time list with stats, the single-season record, and who realistically can break Gayle’s mark.
Quick Answer
Chris Gayle has hit the most sixes in IPL history with 357 maximums from 142 matches across RCB, KKR and PBKS (2009-2021). Rohit Sharma is closest at 310, followed by Virat Kohli (306), MS Dhoni (264) and AB de Villiers (251). The gap between Gayle and second place has stayed at 47+ sixes for years — only Rohit and Kohli have a realistic shot at the all-time record.
Most Sixes in IPL History — Top 10 All-Time List
| Rank | Player | Team(s) | Sixes | Matches | Strike Rate | Career Span |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | KKR / RCB / PBKS | 357 | 142 | 148.96 | 2009-2021 |
| 2 | Rohit Sharma | DC / MI | 310 | 272 | 132.09 | 2008-present |
| 3 | Virat Kohli | RCB | 306 | 276 | 135.50 | 2008-present |
| 4 | MS Dhoni | CSK / RPS | 264 | 275 | 137.43 | 2008-present |
| 5 | AB de Villiers | DD / RCB | 251 | 184 | 151.68 | 2008-2022 |
| 6 | David Warner | DC / SRH / DC | 236 | 184 | 139.91 | 2009-2024 |
| 7 | Sanju Samson | RR / DC / RR | 234 | 180+ | 139.50 | 2013-present |
| 8 | KL Rahul | RCB/SRH/PBKS/LSG/DC | 232 | 161 | 137.92 | 2013-present |
| 9 | Andre Russell | DC / KKR | 223 | 140 | 174.17 | 2012-present |
| 10 | Kieron Pollard | MI | 223 | 189 | 147.32 | 2010-2022 |
📊 What the Top 10 Reveals
Among the top 10 six-hitters in IPL history, five are Indian and five are overseas — a healthier balance than batting run-totals lists, which lean heavily overseas. Andre Russell at 174.17 has the highest strike rate of the group, hitting a six roughly every 6.8 balls — the best six-conversion rate ever achieved. Gayle averaged 2.51 sixes per match, the highest match-by-match clearing rate in IPL history. Kohli’s longevity stat is the most underrated: 306 sixes across 276 matches without ever positioning himself as a power-hitter is the rarest profile on this list. The gap between #1 and #2 has narrowed by only 3 sixes in the last 18 months — Rohit gained on Gayle by 8, but mathematically the record looks safe for at least 2 more IPL seasons.
Most Sixes in a Single IPL Season — All-Time Record
| Rank | Player | Season | Sixes | Innings | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | IPL 2012 | 59 | 14 | RCB |
| 2 | Andre Russell | IPL 2019 | 52 | 14 | KKR |
| 3 | Chris Gayle | IPL 2013 | 51 | 16 | RCB |
| 4 | Abhishek Sharma | IPL 2025 | 49 | 16 | SRH |
| 5 | Jos Buttler | IPL 2022 | 45 | 17 | RR |
Chris Gayle’s 59 sixes in IPL 2012 came in just 14 innings — an average of 4.2 sixes per innings, the highest in any IPL season. He scored 733 runs at an average of 61.08 and won the Orange Cap that year. The record has survived 14 IPL seasons and looks increasingly difficult to break despite the league’s higher-scoring trend. The 49-six season by Abhishek Sharma in IPL 2025 is the highest by an Indian batter in a single IPL season.
🏆 The Sooryavanshi Surge — Fastest to 100 IPL Sixes
At 15, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become the fastest player to 100 IPL sixes — reaching the milestone in 17 innings, six fewer than Chris Gayle’s previous record. He has hit 37 sixes in just 10 innings during IPL 2026, including 12 maximums in a single 103-run knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad. His current pace projects 60+ sixes if Rajasthan Royals make the playoffs — the kind of season that breaks Gayle’s 59-mark held since 2012. Single-season power-hitting in IPL has fundamentally shifted toward Indian batters in the last three years.
Most IPL Sixes by an Indian Batter
Rohit Sharma leads the Indian six-hitting chart with 310 sixes across 272 matches for Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians. Virat Kohli is second at 306 sixes — his entire 17-year career played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. MS Dhoni’s 264 sixes across 275 matches for Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant rank him third among Indians. Sanju Samson sits fourth at 234 for Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals. KL Rahul rounds out the top 5 at 232 across five franchises, the only Indian on this list to have hit 200-plus sixes for multiple teams. The defining trait among Indian six-hitters: longevity. All five have played 160-plus IPL matches.
Six-Hitting Efficiency — Who Hits Sixes Faster?
Highest Six Strike Rate (Top 10)
- Andre Russell — 1 six every 6.8 balls (career SR 174.17)
- AB de Villiers — 1 six every 9.4 balls (career SR 151.68)
- Chris Gayle — 1 six every 10.7 balls (career SR 148.96)
- Kieron Pollard — 1 six every 11.9 balls (career SR 147.32)
Most Sixes Per Match (Top 10)
- Chris Gayle — 2.51 sixes/match (357 in 142 games)
- Andre Russell — 1.59 sixes/match (223 in 140 games)
- AB de Villiers — 1.36 sixes/match (251 in 184 games)
- KL Rahul — 1.44 sixes/match (232 in 161 games)
Records Closing In — Who Can Break Gayle’s 357?
Rohit Sharma at 310 needs 48 more sixes to draw level. At his career pace of ~18-20 sixes per IPL season, he would need 3 more full IPL campaigns — and he’s 39. The realistic ceiling for Rohit is around 360-380 sixes if he plays through IPL 2028. Virat Kohli at 306 sixes is in a similar position but has a slightly higher single-season strike rate trajectory. At his 18-22 sixes per season pace, Kohli could reach 360+ by IPL 2029 when he turns 41. Both Indian veterans have realistic shots, but the gap means they need 3-4 more healthy seasons. The dark horse is Heinrich Klaasen at 88 sixes across just three SRH seasons — at his current rate of 30 sixes per season, he reaches 300+ by IPL 2031.
Gayle’s 357 sixes look safe, but for a different reason than the math suggests. Rohit and Kohli technically have the runway — both can play 2-3 more IPL seasons and the gap is closeable. What stops them is style. Neither plays the “first ball, every ball is a six attempt” cricket that built Gayle’s record. Rohit times the ball into the gaps; Kohli accumulates with one boundary per over rather than three. Gayle in 2012 was hitting 4.2 sixes per innings. Rohit at his peak hits 1.2 sixes per innings. The 50-ball difference between them is essentially a stylistic moat. The record likely stays.
The contrarian read: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will break it. At 15 with 50 IPL sixes already and a strike rate above 230, the projection isn’t bound by veteran-style mental math. If he plays 10 IPL seasons hitting 40-50 sixes per season — modest by his current pace — he passes 400 by IPL 2034. That assumes he doesn’t get hit by a yorker-vulnerability adjustment from the league. But the 175 he made in a U19 World Cup final at age 14, and the 12 sixes against SRH this April, suggest he scales rather than plateaus.
Most Sixes in IPL — FAQs
Who has hit the most sixes in IPL history?
Chris Gayle holds the record for most sixes in IPL history with 357 maximums across 142 matches between 2009 and 2021. He played for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Punjab Kings during his IPL career. Rohit Sharma is closest at 310 sixes, Virat Kohli is third with 306, and MS Dhoni rounds out the top four with 264.
Which Indian player has hit the most sixes in IPL?
Rohit Sharma has hit the most IPL sixes by an Indian batter — 310 sixes across 272 matches for Deccan Chargers (2008-2010) and Mumbai Indians (2011-present). Virat Kohli is second among Indians with 306 sixes for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. MS Dhoni sits third with 264 sixes for CSK and Rising Pune Supergiant.
Who has the most sixes in a single IPL season?
Chris Gayle holds the single-season IPL sixes record with 59 sixes in IPL 2012 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru — achieved in just 14 innings, averaging 4.2 sixes per innings. Andre Russell is second on this list with 52 sixes in IPL 2019 for KKR. Abhishek Sharma’s 49 sixes in IPL 2025 is the highest by an Indian batter in a single IPL season.
Who has the most sixes in a single IPL innings?
Chris Gayle holds the record for most sixes in a single IPL innings with 17 sixes in his unbeaten 175 against Pune Warriors India on 23 April 2013. That innings remains the highest individual score in IPL history. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s 12 sixes in his 103 off 38 against SRH in April 2026 is the most by an Indian batter in a single IPL innings.
Can Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli break Chris Gayle’s IPL sixes record?
Mathematically possible but unlikely. Rohit Sharma at 310 sixes needs 48 more to match Gayle’s 357. At his career pace of 18-20 sixes per IPL season, he would need 3 more full campaigns at age 39+. Virat Kohli at 306 sixes faces the same gap with the same realistic 3-4 season runway. Both Indians stylistically build totals through timing and gap-finding rather than ball-by-ball maximums, which limits their season ceilings.
Bottom Line
Chris Gayle’s 357 sixes is the most untouchable batting record in IPL history. The combination of style (every ball is a six attempt), opportunity (top-of-order with 16-innings seasons), and venue (M Chinnaswamy Stadium’s 60-metre boundaries) created a perfect storm that has not been replicated since. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli both sit close enough to threaten — at 310 and 306 sixes respectively — but their stylistic profiles make the final 50-six gap genuinely difficult. The real long-term threat is the next generation: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi at 15 with 50 IPL sixes already is on a career projection that passes 400 by IPL 2034. Track the live race on our IPL 2026 Orange Cap page, and for the batting-equivalent record list see most runs in IPL history.
