6 longest sixes in IPL history

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is mostly about big hitting and more importantly, hitting sixes. A six is what brings the crowds alive and sometimes, a shot which travels many-a-milecan break the opposition and can win matchesfor the batting team.Over the years, we have seen a lotof sixeshit every year, some powerful and some beautifully timed. We have seen behemothic sixes over cow corner, beautiful sixeshit inside out and even cheeky ones, like the ones hit over the wicket-keepers head.Roughly, 600 sixes are scored in each season on average. Many of the sixes have sailed over the boundary with ease with a feweven breaking the 100-meter mark with elan.In this article,we will take a look at the five biggest sixes ever hit in the IPL, in terms of distance. It isamazingto see the players that have made it to the list as it is a combination of power-hitters and classical batsmen. Every time a six is hit by the batsman, its distance is calculated using the radar gun or the hawk-eye technology and the players with the longest sixes are honoured.So far, Royal Challengers Bangalores (RCB) Chris Gayle has scored the most number of sixes in the IPL followed by Suresh Raina.However in terms of distance there are other players ahead of Gayle.The longest sixes in IPLare:NOTE: This stats in this article are as of 2 May 2015.

#6 Chris Gayle - 119m

This six should be the first lesson to any left-arm spinner who bowls to Chris Gayle. Ali Murtaza, the Pune Warriors India left-arm spinner bowled a length ball close to Gayle’s body, a juicy full-length delivery, which was dispatched over mid-wicket with so much power.

The ground in Bengaluru is smaller compared to other stadiums in India, but this six would have cleared any stadium in the world. A whopping 119m was the distance this delivery travelled and the umpires called for a new ball as the old one went out of the stadium.

Watch the video of Gayle’s six here.

#5 Ross Taylor - 119m

This humongous six from Ross Taylor was hit way back in the one of the first few games of IPL 2008. Playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Taylor came in to bat at number three and was at the receiving end of a nice juicy half tracker from Jacob Oram, his New Zealand team-mate.

Even outside the powerplay, this is not a good ball to bowl to Taylor, who is extremely strong on the leg side. He smashed it over mid-wicket and the entire crowd went ballistic at the length of the hit. It flew over the ropes into the top tier of the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru.

Watch the video of Taylor’s six here (at 14:20).

#4 Robin Uthappa - 120m

Robin Uthappa hit a monstrous six with ease at the Wankhede stadium in IPL 2010. The poor bowler who was on the receiving end was Dwayne Bravo, considered as one of the best death bowlers. But that delivery to Uthappa was so poor that the Karnataka cricketer lifted it over long on for a huge six.

It was a straight length ball on the stumps to a set batsman and it deservingly disappeared into the crowd. It brought huge cheers from the RCB dug out who later went on to win the match with ease. It sure did excite Danny Morrison in the commentary box too.

Watch the video of Uthappa’s six here.

#3 Adam Gilchrist - 122m

“It has gone miles. Absolutely miles. Out of the ground. Out of the stadium. And rolling down the hill.”

That was the beautiful description of Adam Gilchrist’s massive six against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2011, which travelled 122m in Dharamshala, which was a combination of exquisite timing and brute force. It sure would have found its way down the hill!

A slower ball from Charl Langeveldt deserved the treatment from the Aussie southpaw, who got into position very early and flicked it way over midwicket. Langeveldt was left watching the sky, but that was a very poor ball to bowl at someone like Gilchrist.

Watch the video of Gilchrist’s six here.

#2 Praveen Kumar - 124m

Surprise surprise! Praveen Kumar is at the second spot for a six which travelled 124m against the bowling of Yusuf Pathan in IPL 2008.

Promoted up the order, Praveen got under the ball and smashed it with sheer power high over the long-on boundary. The ball just missed the roof of the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengaluru. Yusuf Pathan bowled a gentle off-spinner and the Uttar Pradesh cricketer dismissed it from his sights with brute force.

He hit two more sixes in the same game against the legendary Shane Warne, but that was not enough to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to a victory over the Rajasthan Royals in their home turf.

#1 Albie Morkel - 125m

This blow from Albie Morkel, way back in 2008, continues to top the charts in terms of the longest six. Pragyan Ojha bowled a nicely flighted delivery close on Albie’s legs and that as we know is asking for trouble.

The South African got into position early, sat down on his back foot and bludgeoned it over the mid-wicket region and it went out of the Chepauk stadium in Chennai. It went so high that the cameramen couldn’t trace the ball and the commentators exclaimed that it probably went to the beach nearby.

The umpire had to call for a new ball to resume play.

Watch the video of Morkel’s six here.