5 players with most sixes in International Cricket in a calendar year across formats

Cricket today has become a batsman's game. Over the years, the game has tilted heavily towards the batsmen with the advent of smaller cricket grounds and bigger bats. With the advent of T20s, bowlers are left with no place to hide with the batsmen going after them from ball 1.

Six hitting has also become absolutely effortless today with batsmen not afraid to take risks and hit the ball in the air. While some players rely on brute force and power, others are more reliant on timing. So, who are those players who have hit the maximum number of sixes in international cricket in a calendar year across formats? Let us have a look.

#5 Shahid Afridi (2005)

'Boom boom' Afridi

Shahid Afridi was the first true clean hitter of the modern era. Popularly known among his fans as ' Boom Boom Afridi', he was one of the most enigmatic players in the history of cricket. He announced his arrival into the world stage when he smashed the then-fastest century in ODIs of just 37 balls against Sri Lanka in 1996. That particular record stood for 18 years before it was broken by Corey Anderson in 2014.

He will forever be associated with his madcap batting which remains a crowd-puller even today.

In terms of six hitting he had his best year in 2005 when he smashed a record 56 sixes in the calendar year to occupy the number 5 position on the list. Afridi also holds the record of the most international sixes in the history of cricket with him hitting 476 sixes over the course of his 20-year career.

#4 Shane Watson (2011)

Shane Watson is a clean hitter of the cricket ball

The big all-rounder from Australia occupies the number 4 position on the list. At his best, 'Watto' was one of the most powerful hitters of the cricket ball. He stood deep in his crease and punched the ball with raw power. However, he faced a difficult time with injuries throughout his career and perhaps never realised his true potential because of them.

In spite of this, he remains one of Australia's most impactful cricketers of the last decade.

His best six-hitting year was 2011, when he cleared the fence 57 times in international cricket.

#3 Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle in action for theWest Indies

Flamboyant West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle is at the number 3 spot on the list. He, along with contemporary opening batsmen like Sehwag, McCullum and Dilshan revolutionized modern day cricket - relying on terrific hand-eye coordination to hit even the good length deliveries out of the park. A powerful batsmen who can turn the tide of any match in a matter of overs, he is a prized commodity in all the T20 leagues around the world.

In terms of six hitting in international cricket he hit 59 sixes in the year 2012. He is also second on the all time list with 454 sixes over the course of his career.

#2 AB De Villiers

South Africa's superman - AB De Villiers

AB De Viilliers, 'The Superman' from South Africa is one of the most talented cricketers to ever grace the cricket field. Known as 'Mr 360' because of his all round hitting ability, he is one of the few batsmen who has excelled in all three formats of the game. He holds the record for the fastest fifty, the fastest hundred (joint with Rohit Sharma), and the fastest 150 in ODIs. His range of inventive strokeplay has increased as his career has progressed.

One of the most likeable cricketers around, he also enjoys a cult like following in India, where he plays for the Bangalore franchise in the IPL.

He occupies the number two spot on the list after hitting 63 sixes in international cricket in the year 2015.

#1 Rohit Sharma

The Hitman himself

Rohit Sharma made his debut in international cricket during the 2007 T20 World Cup against South Africa. His talent has never been in doubt. However, he has begun to consistently translate it into performances after MS Dhoni's masterstroke in 2013, when he asked Rohit to open the innings. Rohit relies mostly on touch and timing and is perhaps the most graceful player to watch when he is on the top of his game.

His six hitting is effortless, and he can clear any boundary in the world with exemplary ease. The only player in the world with three double hundreds in ODIs, he will surely be an ODI legend by the time he finishes his career.

Rohit climbed to the top of the pile after his record breaking century against Sri Lanka in the second T20 International in December 2017. He has hit 64 sixes in international cricket in 2017 till now, breaking AB De Villiers' record in the process.