IPL 2018: 5 batsmen with the best balls-per-six ratio

The 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League was a huge success. Chennai Super Kings gave the best possible gift to the fans who were waiting for the return of favourite franchise for two long years.

In this year's IPL, a total of 19,901 runs were amassed with the help of 872 sixes. 5232 runs came by clearing the boundary ropes, i.e nearly 45% of the 11840 runs scored from boundaries and sixes in this year's tournament.

The number of sixes (872) scored this year was much higher than the previous highest of 734 sixes in 2012 (from 72 matches). A six was scored for every 15.83 balls this year, which is much better than next best of 18.99 balls per six set in 2015 and 2017.

Rishabh Pant scored the most number of sixes, 37, in this season but he doesn't have the best balls-per-ratio in spite of mammoth strike rate of 173.60. Here is a list of the five batsmen with the best balls-per-six ratio in this year's IPL.

Note: Only batsmen with more than 10 sixes were considered

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#5 AB de Villiers- 9.17 balls per six

AB de Villiers has hit this year's longest six

AB de Villiers, one of the most prolific hitters of the cricket ball, was yet again among the top six-hitters of the tournament. In the 11 innings that he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore, he hit 30 sixes while making 480 runs at a strike rate of 174.54.

Even though ABD had good outings of 90* and 72* against Delhi Daredevils, the innings in which he hit the most sixes, 8, came against the Chennai Super Kings in a loss. In the 30-ball 68 run cameo against CSK, he helped his side to post a daunting total of 205-8 but even that wasn't enough to stop the mighty MS Dhoni.

Innings: 11 | Runs: 480 | Strike Rate:174.54 | Balls Faced: 275 | 4s: 39 | 6s: 30

#4 Dwayne Bravo - 9.1 balls per six

Chennai Super Kings' all-rounder Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo did his job silently and efficiently for the Champions Chennai Super Kings. Even though his performances went under the radar, he finished the innings many times for his team as he remained not out 6 times in the 10 innings that he came to bat.

He scored 141 runs from 91 balls along with hitting 10 sixes. His best innings came in the very first match of the tournament when he took his side from 75-5 to a situation where an injured Kedhar Jadhav could take them to victory. In his 30-ball 68 cameo in the match, he hit as many as 7 sixes to help his side get close to victory.

Innings: 10 | Runs: 141 | Strike Rate:154.94 | Balls Faced: 91 | 4s: 8 | 6s: 10

#3 Colin de Grandhomme - 8.4 balls per six

Colin de Grandhomme played some crucial knocks for RCB

After not finding a place in the XI for the first few matches, Colin de Grandhomme proved his worth when given a chance in the latter part of the tournament. He proved useful with the bat and the ball. With the bat, he scored 131 runs at a strike rate of 155.95 and also hit 10 sixes in the tournament.

His best innings came in a very crucial match against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in a must-win game. He scored 40 runs off just 17 balls with the help of 4 sixes.

Innings: 8 | Runs: 131 | Strike Rate:155.95 | Balls Faced: 84 | 4s: 4 | 6s: 10

#2 Sunil Narine - 8.17

Sunil Narine was adjudged the MVP of the tournament

Sunil Narine was crucial in KKR's journey to the playoffs as he provided good starts on a regular basis. He had the highest strike rate for any player with more than 200 runs in this tournament. He scored 357 runs at an astonishing strike rate of 189.89.

His highest score of 75 off 36 balls came against Kings XI Punjab in which he helped his side register a mammoth total of 245/6, which is incidentally the highest score posted by KKR in IPL history.

Innings: 16 | Runs: 357 | Strike Rate:189.89 | Balls Faced: 188 | 4s: 40 | 6s: 23

#1 Andre Russell - 5.51 balls per six

Russell is one of the hardest hitters of the cricket ball

Andre Russell was just behind Sunil Narine in terms of strike rate as he was making around 185 runs per 100 balls. Kolkata Knight Riders made it to the playoffs because of the striking power of these two West Indians. In the 14 innings that he played, he scored 316 off just 171 balls.

His best innings came against the Chennai Super Kings in KKR's second match of the season. The big Jamaican came into bat after ten overs when his side lost 5 wickets for 89 runs. He started slowly scoring just 10 runs off the first 11 balls, but in the next 24 balls he hit as many as 78 runs and took his side to 205 runs with the help of 11 sixes.

Innings: 14 | Runs: 316 | Strike Rate:184.79 | Balls Faced: 171 | 4s: 17 | 6s: 31