Understanding Sixes in Cricket

In cricket, a six occurs when the ball is hit beyond the boundary without touching the ground. It’s the highest-scoring shot a batter can achieve in the game. Sixes are celebrated for their display of power, technique, and timing.

Significance of Sixes in ODI Cricket

Sixes play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of an ODI match. They not only add runs to the scoreboard but also alter the momentum of the game. A flurry of sixes can demoralize the opposition while boosting the batting team’s confidence.

Players with the Most Sixes in an Innings of ODI

Several cricketers have etched their names in history by smashing numerous sixes in a single ODI innings. Players like Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers have showcased their power-hitting prow by hitting a remarkable number of sixes.

Complete Table of Most Sixers In An Innings

Player	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Opposition	Ground	Match Date
Eoin Morgan	148	71	4	17	Afghanistan	Old Trafford	18 June 2019
RG Sharma	209	158	12	16	Australia	Bengaluru	2 Nov 2013
AB de Villiers	149	44	9	16	West Indies	Johannesburg	18 Jan 2015
CH Gayle	215	147	10	16	Zimbabwe	Canberra	24 Feb 2015
SR Watson	185*	96	15	15	Bangladesh	Dhaka	11 Apr 2011
CJ Anderson	131*	47	6	14	West Indies	Queenstown	1 Jan 2014
NLTC Perera	140	74	8	13	New Zealand	Mount Maunganui	5 Jan 2019
XM Marshall	157*	118	11	12	Canada	King City (NW)	22 Aug 2008
RG Sharma	208*	153	13	12	Sri Lanka	Mohali	13 Dec 2017
CH Gayle	135	129	3	12	England	Bridgetown	20 Feb 2019
JC Buttler	150	77	13	12	West Indies	St George’s	27 Feb 2019
ST Jayasuriya	134	65	11	11	Pakistan	Singapore	2 Apr 1996
Shahid Afridi	102	40	6	11	Sri Lanka	Nairobi (Gym)	4 Oct 1996
D Ramdin	169	121	8	11	Bangladesh	Basseterre	25 Aug 2014
MJ Guptill	237*	163	24	11	West Indies	Wellington	21 Mar 2015
AB de Villiers	119	61	3	11	India	Mumbai	25 Oct 2015
Q de Kock	178	113	16	11	Australia	Centurion	30 Sep 2016
MP Stoinis	146*	117	9	11	New Zealand	Auckland	30 Jan 2017
MJ Guptill	180*	138	15	11	South Africa	Hamilton	1 Mar 2017
CH Gayle	123	91	7	11	U.A.E.	Harare	6 Mar 2018
MS Dhoni	183*	145	15	10	Sri Lanka	Jaipur	31 Oct 2005
MV Boucher	147*	68	8	10	Zimbabwe	Potchefstroom	20 Sep 2006
ML Hayden	181*	166	11	10	New Zealand	Hamilton	20 Feb 2007
BB McCullum	166	135	12	10	Ireland	Aberdeen	1 Jul 2008
Abdul Razzaq	109*	72	7	10	South Africa	Abu Dhabi	31 Oct 2010
KA Pollard	119	110	4	10	India	Chennai	11 Dec 2011
AD Mathews	139*	116	6	10	India	Ranchi	16 Nov 2014

11. Denesh Ramdin Most Sixes In An Inning vs. Bangladesh – August 2014

Denesh Ramdin, a current West Indian player, holds the record for most sixes scored in an inning of an ODI match. On August 25, 2014, at Basseterre, he smashed 11 sixes in a game against Bangladesh.
In that innings, he faced 121 balls, hit 8 boundaries, and amassed a slot Filipina total of 169 runs at a strike rate of 139.66.

10. Shahid Afridi Most Sixes In An Inning vs. Sri Lanka – October 1996

After that, Shahid Afridi, a former Pakistani player who also smashed 11 sixes in a game against Sri Lanka on October 4, 1996, in Nairobi, holds the record for most sixes scored in one innings of an ODI match.

In those same innings, he faced 40 balls, hit six boundaries, and scored 102 runs with a strike rate 255.00. Afridi, regarded as one of the best all-rounders in cricket history, demonstrated his value that day with his incredible batting performance.

9. Sanath Jayasuriya Most Sixes In An Inning vs. Pakistan – April 1996

Sanath Jayasuriya, a former Sri Lankan batsman who also scored 11 sixes in a match against Pakistan on April 2, 1996, in Singapore, is second on the list of players with the most sixes in Mahjong manner 2 in ODI innings.
In the same innings, he struck out 206.15 at a strike rate of 206.15 and added 11 boundaries in 134 runs against 65 balls.

8. Rohit Sharma Most Sixes In An Inning vs. Sri Lanka – December 2017

Rohit Sharma, an Indian player who scored 12 sixes in a match against Sri Lanka on December 13, 2017, at Mohali, is the only player to appear twice on the list of players with the most sixes in an ODI innings.
During the same innings, he faced 153 balls, hit 13 boundaries, and scored 208 runs with a strike rate of 135.94.

7. Xavier Marshall Most Sixes In An Inning vs. Canada –August 2008

Xavier Marshall, a former West Indian cricketer, ranks second on the list of players with the most sixes in an ODI innings. Marshall’s remarkable 12 sixes came in a match against Canada on August 22, 2008, in King City.
In the same innings, he struck out 118 balls for a strike rate of 133.05 and amassed 157 runs with 11 boundaries.

6. Corey Anderson Most Sixes In An Inning vs. West Indies – January 2014

Corey Anderson, a current player for New Zealand, ranks fifth on our list of players with the most sixes in an ODI innings. In Queenstown, Anderson struck an incredible 14 sixes in a match against the West Indies on January 1, 2014.
In the same innings, he faced 47 balls, hit six boundaries, and amassed 131 runs with a strike rate 278.72.

5. Shane Watson Most Sixes In An Inning vs. Bangladesh – April 2011

Shane Watson, a former Australian player, is in second place on the list of players with the most sixes in an ODI innings. Watson’s astounding 15 sixes in an innings came during a game against Bangladesh on April 11, 2011, in Dhaka.
In the same innings, he faced 96 balls, struck out 192.70 runs at an average of 185, and added 15 boundaries.

4. Chris Gayle Most Sixes In An Inning vs. Zimbabwe – February 2015

The current West Indian star Chris Gayle is another player who has achieved the same sixes in an ODI inning. On February 24, 2015, in a game against Zimbabwe in Canberra, Gayle scored an incredible 16 sixes in an innings.
During those same innings, he faced 147 balls, scored 215 runs with a strike rate of 146.25, and hit 10 boundaries. In addition to being one of cricket’s most potent hard hitters, Gayle also struck the most sixes in T20 International matches.

3. AB de Villiers Most Sixes In An Inning vs. West Indies – January 2015

The current South African player AB de Villiers is the next player to hit the same amount of sixes in a single innings. On January 18, 2015, in a match played in Johannesburg, de Villiers scored 16 sixes in a match against the West Indies.
During those same innings, he faced 44 balls, hit 9 boundaries, and amassed 149 runs with a strike rate of 338.63. His outstanding performance that day cemented his status as one of history’s greatest batters.

2. Rohit Sharma Most Sixes In An Inning – 16 Sixes vs. Australia – November 2013

In second place in the list of batsmen with the highest number of sixes in an innings is one of the greatest batsmen of all time, Rohit Sharma. The current Indian batting sensation scored a massive 16 sixes in a match against Australia on 2nd November 2013 in Bengaluru.

During the same innings, he faced 158 balls, hit 12 boundaries, and scored 209 runs with a strike rate of 132.27. Some of the biggest sixes the cricket world has ever seen adorned his innings that day.

1. Eoin Morgan Most Sixes In An Inning – 17 Sixes  vs. Afghanistan – June 2019

Eoin Morgan, an English batsman and one of cricket’s best finishers, performed astonishingly well in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup. On June 18, 2019, during the World Cup play against Afghanistan, he hit 17 sixes. In the process, he also beat Indian batsman Rohit Sharma’s long-standing record.
Morgan amassed 148 runs in just 71 balls during that match at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, one of the largest cricket stadiums, with 17 sixes and 4 boundaries. In addition, he scored 208.45 runs at bat against Afghanistan, thanks to his lightning-fast batting.

Most Sixes in an Innings of ODI | Special Mentions

Several other cricket players have hit 11 sixes in one ODI innings after Ramdin. These were scored by Quinton de Kock for South Africa against Australia on September 30, 2016, Marcus Stoinis for Australia against New Zealand on January 30, 2017, Martin Guptill for New Zealand against the West Indies on March 21, 2015, AB de Villiers again for South Africa against India on October 25, 2016, Quinton de Kock for South Africa against Australia on March 30, 2016, and Martin Guptill again, against South Africa on March 1.

It’s no small thing for a player to score the most sixes in one-day international cricket (ODI) innings. The list above showcases the power, speed, and ingenuity of the batters who have fearlessly struck the balls they have faced and sent them straight over the heads of the fielders to score the most runs—six—that can be scored with a single regular ball!

Most sixes in a match (by Both Teams) | 2024 Updates

Both teams disrupt the record book during the India vs. Australia match. India, playing first, scored 385 runs. Being the only third batter in history to score 200 runs, Rohit Sharma did it. He smashes 16 enormous sixes in his double ton, shattering Shane Watson’s world record of 15 sixes against Bangladesh. When Rohit scored 183 runs against Sri Lanka at Jaipur, he eclipsed the Indian record previously held by captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who hit ten sixes in his innings.

With 19 by Australia and 19 by India, the match has set a global record for the most sixes (38) and surpassed the 31 in the India-New Zealand ODI in Christchurch on March 8, 2009. With 16 wickets lost, the match yielded 709 runs, the second-highest total in an India-Australian encounter, only surpassed by the 721 for six at Jaipur on October 16, 2013. In an ODI series, more than 700 runs have been scored in three matches for the first time.

Rank	Team 1	Team 2	Fours	Sixes	Winner	Ground	Date
1	India	Australia	59	38	India	Bengaluru	2nd November 2013
2	New Zealand	India	62	31	India	Christchurch	8th March 2009
3	New Zealand	West Indies	62	31	New Zealand	Wellington	21st March 2015
4	England	West Indies	50	28	England	Bristol	24th September 2017
5	England	New Zealand	74	27	New Zealand	The Oval	12th June 2015
6	South Africa	Australia	87	26	South Africa	Johannesburg	12th March 2006
7	New Zealand	Australia	56	26	New Zealand	Hamilton	20th February 2007
8	New Zealand	West Indies	31	26	New Zealand	Queenstown	1st January 2014
9	South Africa	West Indies	48	26	South Africa	Centurion	28th January 2015
10	India	South Africa	63	25	South Africa	Mumbai	25th October 2015

Analyzing Iconic Innings

Shahid Afridi’s blistering 102 runs off 37 balls against Sri Lanka in 1996 remains one of the most memorable innings in ODI cricket. Similarly, Chris Gayle’s explosive 215 runs off 147 balls against Zimbabwe in 2015 showcased his ability to clear the boundaries easily.

Top Performers in ODI Cricket History

Comparing players with the most sixes in innings provides insights into their consistency and dominance in cricket. Records and achievements highlight the impact of these players on the game’s history.

Techniques for Successful Six-Hitting

Hitting sixes requires a combination of skill, timing, and strength. Batsmen employ various techniques, including footwork, bat speed, and shot selection, to clear the boundary ropes.

Famous Innings with Maximum Sixes

Cricket enthusiasts cherish moments when batsmen unleash a barrage of sixes. Iconic innings like Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in an over or Corey Anderson’s record-breaking century resonate with fans worldwide.

Evolution of Power Hitting in Cricket

The advent of T20 cricket has revolutionized the art of power-hitting. Players have adapted their techniques to suit the game’s fast-paced nature, leading to an increase in the frequency of sixes.

Impact of T20 Cricket on ODI Six-Hitting

The popularity of T20 leagues has influenced ODI cricket, encouraging players to adopt an aggressive approach. The boundary-clearing ability of batsmen has become a valuable asset in modern-day cricket.

Strategies for Bowlers to Counter Six-Hitting

Bowlers continuously evolve their tactics to contain power-hitters. Variations in pace, spin, trajectory, and strategic field placements are key strategies bowlers employ to counter six-hitting prowess.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ability to hit sixes in ODI cricket is a testament to a player’s skill and power. Iconic innings and record-breaking performances highlight the significance of boundary-clearing shots in shaping the outcome of matches. As cricket continues to evolve, the art of six-hitting remains a captivating aspect of the game.