The Indian Premier League (IPL) is India’s top T20 cricket tournament, organized by the BCCI. Launched in 2007, it features ten franchise teams and is the world’s richest and most popular cricket league. Held annually from March to May, the IPL has an exclusive ICC Future Tours Programme window, minimizing international matches during its season. The IPL was created as a response to the Indian Cricket League (ICL), a Zee Entertainment initiative that lacked BCCI and ICC recognition. To counter the ICL, the BCCI launched the IPL and imposed lifetime bans on players who joined the rival league. This led to the ICL’s shutdown in 2009.
Most sixes by a batsman in an innings in IPL's history
The record for the most sixes in a single IPL innings reportedly belongs to Chris Gayle. He smashed 17 sixes during his iconic 175 off 66 balls* against Pune Warriors India on April 23, 2013, at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. This remains the highest individual score in IPL history.
2. Brendon McCullum (13 Sixes) – KKR
Brendon McCullum holds the second position when he smashed 158 off 73 balls for KKR against RCB in the first-ever IPL match on April 18, 2008, in Bengaluru. His innings, featuring 13 sixes, set the tone for the IPL’s explosive batting style.
3. Chris Gayle (13 Sixes) – RCB
Chris Gayle takes the third spot by scoring 13 sixes for RCB against Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) on May 17, 2012, at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
4. Chris Gayle (12 Sixes) – RCB
Chris Gayle holds the fourth spot as well, when he scored 117 off 57 balls for RCB against Punjab Kings on May 6, 2015, in Bengaluru. He hammered 12 sixes, adding another explosive innings to his IPL legacy.
5. AB de Villiers (12 Sixes) – RCB
AB de Villiers holds the fifth spot by smashing 12 sixes while scoring 129 off 52 balls for RCB against Gujarat Lions on May 14, 2016, in Bengaluru. His innings had a strike rate of 248.07, which is one of the highest in IPL history. Read More: Most Fours in IPL History
List of batsmen with the most sixes in an innings in IPL
| Player | Runs | Balls | 6s | SR | Against | Ground | Match Date |
| Chris Gayle | 175 | 66 | 17 | 265.15 | v Warriors | Bengaluru | 23 April 2013 |
| Brendon McCullum | 158 | 73 | 13 | 216.43 | v RCB | Bengaluru | 18 April 2008 |
| Chris Gayle | 128 | 62 | 13 | 206.45 | v Daredevils | Delhi | 17 May 2012 |
| Chris Gayle | 117 | 57 | 12 | 205.26 | v Kings XI | Bengaluru | 06 May 2015 |
| AB de Villiers | 129 | 52 | 12 | 248.07 | v Guj Lions | Bengaluru | 14 May 2016 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 114 | 48 | 11 | 237.50 | v CSK | Wankhede | 14 May 2008 |
| Murali Vijay | 127 | 56 | 11 | 226.78 | v RR | Chennai | 03 April 2010 |
| Andre Russell | 88 | 36 | 11 | 244.44 | v CSK | Chennai | 10 April 2018 |
FAQs on IPL
A. Harshal Patel (RCB, 2021) & Dwayne Bravo (CSK, 2013) have taken the most wickets in a season with 32 wickets each.
A. MS Dhoni (CSK/RPS) has the most dismissals as a wicket-keeper with 190 dismissals.
A. Virat Kohli (RCB) is the fielder with the most catches in IPL, with 114 catches.
A. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) posted 287/3 vs RCB on April 15, 2024, which became the highest team total in IPL's history.
