IPL history: Most sixes hit by a batsman in 2018 season

T20 cricket’s first motive is entertainment and nothing entertains the crowd more than a six. The sound of the ball hitting the bat, then achieving a soaring height with tremendous speed and then eventually crashing into the stands, every bit captures the audience. Also, with the ball landing in your stand, it is the closest you can get to the actual action. Six is the currency of T20 cricket.

The IPL knows it. They used to host a competition where the batsmen try to hit the longest six on a ball delivered by the bowling machine. Even in the tournament, the sixes count is displayed after every boundary clearance. 2018 was no different. There were a total of 872 sixes hit in the season, the most ever in a single edition. Following are the ten leading contributors in setting up this record.

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#10 Evin Lewis (Mumbai Indians) - 24

Evin Lewis

The West Indian opener played his debut season in the 2018 IPL. There were tremendous expectations from this youngster who batted in the mould of his mentor, Chris Gayle. Mumbai Indians signed Evin Lewis on the back of his exceptional performances in International cricket.

Opening the batting at the Wankhede Stadium, Lewis had an average season. He still finishes at the tenth spot in the most sixes list. The Windies batsman struck 24 sixes in 13 appearances. Lewis scored 382 runs in his first season.

#9 Chris Gayle (Kings XI Punjab) - 27

Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle’s legendary status in T20 cricket grew by one season at a time. When the Universe Boss came out to bat at the top for Royal Challengers Bangalore, the bowlers dreaded to confront him. Roofs of the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore bear the marks of Gayle’s ferocity.

Despite his waning powers, Gayle still managed to earn his position in the list of most sixes in 2018 IPL. Representing Kings XI Punjab, the Jamaican marauder smashed 27 sixes in his 11 appearances. Gayle also added another IPL century to his record in this season.

#8 Kane Williamson (Sunrisers Hyderabad) - 28

Kane Williamson

IPL 2018 season proved to be a breakthrough for Kane Williamson. The New Zealand batsman received the captaincy of Sunrisers Hyderabad after David Warner was ruled out. Williamson not only captained the side into the final, but he also finished as the highest run-scorer of the tournament.

Williamson is not known for his six-hitting capability, but he broke the stereotype by sending the ball over the boundary 28 times. He also struck 64 boundaries while accumulating 735 runs in 17 matches. Williamson completed eight half-centuries in the 2018 IPL edition.

#7 MS Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings) - 30

MS Dhoni

In 2018 IPL, we witnessed the revival of MS Dhoni. India’s favourite cricketer had begun as a flashy batsman who demolished the opposition’s batting attack. With time, Dhoni’s batting had calmed down and there were doubts over his effectiveness in T20s before 2018 IPL started.

Dhoni removed all doubts with his spectacular performance in the IPL. His knock of 70 not out in 34 balls with seven sixes against RCB at Bengaluru was a stand-out. He achieved his personal best with 30 sixes in 2018 season. Thala was at his belligerent best.

#6 AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore) - 30

AB de Villiers

No bowler in the world can stop AB de Villiers from hitting sixes. The South African batsman is one of the most complete batsmen in the world and he has been proving the same in each season of the IPL. 2018 was no exception and we saw ABD rocketing 30 sixes this season.

ABD’s 37-ball 72 with six sixes or 30-ball 68 with eight sixes reminded the bowlers who the boss was. De Villiers’ 90 from just 39 balls against Delhi Daredevils helped RCB chase down 175 runs in 18 overs. With six half-centuries and 30 sixes, ABD finished with 480 runs in 12 matches.

#5 Andre Russell (Kolkata Knight Riders) - 31

Andre Russell

The West Indian all-rounder missed the 2017 IPL edition due to the violation of ICC’s doping code. Andre Russell achieved a spectacular return to the Kolkata Knight Riders with 31 sixes in the season. These sixes accounted for almost 60% of Russell’s total runs.

Against CSK at Chennai, Russell came out to bat with KKR struggling at 89/5. The all-rounder played a smashing inning where he scored 88 from just 36 balls with 11 sixes. This remained the highest tally in the tournament until Gayle levelled it. Russell also struck 17 fours.

#4 KL Rahul (Kings XI Punjab) - 32

KL Rahul

Opening for Kings XI Punjab, KL Rahul propelled himself in the national team with the backing of splendid season performance. In the first match itself, Rahul hammered the fastest IPL fifty against Delhi Daredevils. He continued his fine form throughout the tournament by piling up 659 runs in 14 matches.

KL Rahul registered six fifty-plus scores in the 2018 season out of which two were ninety-plus knocks. His best was 95 not out from 70 balls against Rajasthan Royals. Rahul struck 32 sixes and 66 fours and was the leading run-scorer for his team.

#3 Ambati Rayudu (Chennai Super Kings) - 34

Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu is another name which is not commonly associated with hitting sixes regularly. However, the 2018 IPL season told a different story. Rayudu amassed 602 runs in the season for Chennai Super Kings and played the central role in getting the yellow team in another IPL final.

Rayudu’s 602 runs included a century and three fifties. He completed those with 53 fours and 34 sixes. Rayudu’s 100 not out deserves a special mention because it was scored against Sunrisers Hyderabad - the best bowling unit in the competition. The knock included seven sixes and as many fours.

#2 Shane Watson (Chennai Super Kings) - 35

Shane Watson

It was long considered that the Australian batsman was well past his prime but CSK decided to show faith in him. Shane Watson repaid it fully and how! In the IPL final against SRH at Mumbai, Watson began with 10 dot balls. After soaking up the pressure, the Australian went on to score 117 not out and got the team across the target of 179 runs.

Shane Watson finished as the fifth highest run-getter of the season. His tally of 555 runs was made up of 35 sixes and 44 fours. He scored two centuries and two half-centuries in the season.

#1 Rishabh Pant (Delhi Daredevils) - 37

Rishabh Pant

With 37 sixes in 14 matches, this pocket-sized batsman from Delhi was the show-stealer in this IPL. Rishabh Pant smashed sixes and struck them all the force he could muster. Many times, he fell on his knees after completing the swing of his bat. The off-balanced batsman still managed to send the white ball into the stands.

Pant notched the highest score of the season with an astounding 128 not out against SRH in just 63 balls with seven sixes. Pant finished the season as the second-highest run-scorer. He scored 684 runs in 14 matches with a strike rate of 174. This includes 37 sixes and 68 fours. Pant almost scored three-fourths of his runs in boundaries.