IPL 2019: Top 5 Batsmen with best balls per six ratios in the first half of the tournament

The Indian Premier League has completed its first half of the tournament. While Kings XI Punjab have played 8 matches so far, all the other teams, except Sunrisers Hyderabad have played 7 games.

Till now, runs have been flowing thick and fast in the tournament. A total of 9161 runs were made in the first 28 matches. While a total of 47 fifties were scored in these matches, four batsmen went onto score centuries.

With most venues resulting in high scoring encounters, the batsmen are having a field day in hitting fours and sixes. A total of 347 sixes have been hit in the first half of the tournament with the longest one being 104 meters long.

As we progress into the more exciting second half of the tournament let us take a look the five batsmen with the best balls per six ratios:

*Only batsmen with 10 or more sixes were considered.*

*All stats are updated till April 13, 2019.*

*Credits: BCCI, IPLT20*

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#5 Nitish Rana (Kolkata Knight Riders) - 9.31 balls per six

Nitish Rana has been in good form

Nitish Rana has been performing well for the Kolkata Knight Riders this season. He scoring runs at a healthy strike rate of 148.76. In the seven matches so far, he scored a total of 180 runs from 121 balls. He hit a total of 11 fours and 13 sixes season.

In the six innings that he played this season, he scored two half-centuries. His best innings was against the Kings XI Punjab in KKR's second match.

He scored 63 runs off just 34 balls. During his stay, he cleared the boundary ropes on 7 occasions. The foundation laid by him and Robin Uthappa helped Andre Russell to power Kolkata to 218 in 20 overs.

Innings: 6, Runs scored: 180, Balls faced: 121, Avg: 30.00, SR: 148.76, 4s: 11, 6s: 13

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#4 Chirs Gayle (Kings XI Punjab) - 7.83 balls per six

Chris Gayle missed his century by 1 run

Chris Gayle was written off by many before the start of the last season but the Universe Boss has proved everyone wrong in the previous edition and he is at it again this season.

In the 7 innings so far, he scored a total of 322 runs at an average of 53.66 and a strike rate of 157.07. In the 205 balls that he faced this season, he has 28 fours and 23 sixes to his name.

Of the three half-centuries he scored this season, the best one was against the Mumbai Indians. He hit a total of 7 sixes to score 63 runs from 36 balls. Gayle and KL Rahul added 116 runs for the first wicket in less than 13 overs but KXIP ended on the losing side.

Innings: 7, Runs scored: 322, Balls faced: 205, Avg: 53.66, SR: 157.07, 4s: 28, 6s: 23

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#3 Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians) - 7.36 balls per six

Hardik Pandya has been scintillating with the bat

Hardik Pandya has been in scintillating form with the bat this season. If not for his bowling, he would have been the talk of the town.

The Mumbai Indians all-rounder time and again gave his side the right finish to an innings. He scored a total of 149 runs in just 81 balls. He scored these runs at a strike rate of 183.95. In the 7 innings that he played so far, he hit a total of 9 fours and 11 sixes.

His best match was against the defending champions Chennai Super Kings. By hitting a four and three sixes, he scored 25 runs off just 8 balls and gave MI's innings a perfect finish. With the ball, he took three wickets for just 20 runs and handed CSK their only loss of the season.

Innings: 7, Runs scored: 149, Balls faced: 81, Avg: 37.25, SR: 183.95, 4s: 9, 6s: 11

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#2 Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians) - 6.12 balls per six

Pollard's form is a sign for worry for the opposition teams

Kieron Pollard got a lot of flak from fans and critics alike after failing against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab. Some even wanted the franchise to drop him for the fourth match but since then Trinidad batsman has silenced everyone with his performance.

In total, he scored a total of 185 runs at a strike rate of 177.88 in seven innings. He has been dealing with sixes more often than fours. He cleared the boundary rope on 17 occasions this season.

His best performance came against the Kings XI Punjab in their return fixture at the Wankhede Stadium. He smashed 10 sixes during his innings of 31 balls, which yielded 83 runs. As a result of his onslaught, Mumbai ended up winning the match by 3 wickets.

Innings: 7, Runs scored: 185, Balls faced: 104, Avg: 37.00, SR: 177.88, 4s: 7, 6s: 17

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#1 Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders) - 4.90 balls per six

Russell has a strike rate of 212.67 this season

There are no surprises at the top as Andre Russell has been in terrific form and is hitting at his will. The Jamaican all-rounder has been pulling his team out of troubled situations time and again.

He hit a total of 29 sixes in just 6 innings and has an insane strike rate of 212.67. He has been clearing the fence easily has already taken a huge lead in the number of sixes hit so far in the tournament.

In the six innings that he has played so far, Russell also showed that he is not a one gear batsman by hitting a calm and calculated half-century against the Chennai Super Kings to bail his team out of trouble.

In the remaining five innings, he slaughtered the opposition bowling attacks, which found it insanely difficult to control him. He hit the most sixes - 7 - in an innings against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Russell came to bat when KKR struggling but took his side to victory with 5 balls to spare by scoring 48 runs off just 13 balls.

Innings: 6, Runs scored: 302, Balls faced: 142, Avg: 100.67, SR: 212.67, 4s: 20, 6s: 29

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