Players with Most Sixes in International Cricket History: All Format, T20, ODI and Test Cricket

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By Aditi Grover

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Players with Most Sixes in International Cricket History: Hitting sixes is one of the most exhilarating aspects of cricket. It shows a player’s power, confidence, timing as well as batting performance. Rohit Shatm holds the title of king of sixes. He has hit a maximum number of the sixes now in history. 

Cricket is the most popular sport in the world. There are several types of cricket tournaments organised to entertain the cricket lover. T20, ODI, Test, IPL, etc are the cricket tournaments which are played in the world. Nothing is more exciting than a huge six flying over the boundary. Whether it’s the long, strategic battles of Test matches or the fast-paced action of T20 games, hitting sixes is a skill that makes players stand out. So, today we bring you a list of players who have become legends by hitting the most sixes in cricket history. 

Let’s explore the players who have hit the most sixes in international cricket across all formats, including T20, ODI, and Test cricket.

Overview Table of Players with Most Sixes in Cricket History:

FormatPlayerTotal Sixes
All FormatsRohit Sharma597
T20 InternationalsShahid Afridi351
One Day InternationalsRohit Sharma323
Test MatchesBen Stokes128

Most Sixes In All Format Combined

In international cricket, combining all Test, ODI, and T20 formats, the below players have made their mark by hitting the most sixes:

No.PlayerTeamMatchesTotal Sixes
1Rohit SharmaIndia472597 (84+323+190)
2Chris GayleWest Indies483553 (98+331+124)
3Shahid AfridiPakistan524476 (52+351+73)
4Brendon McCullumNew Zealand432398 (107+200+91)
5Martin GuptillNew Zealand367383 (23+187+173)
6MS DhoniIndia538359 (78+229+52)
7Sanath JayasuriyaSri Lanka586352 (59+270+23)
8Eoin MorganEngland379346 (6+220+120)
9AB de VilliersSouth Africa420328 (64+204+60)
10Jos ButtlerEngland344326 (33+170+123)

Most Sixes In T20 International Cricket

T20 cricket is the shortest official cricket format. It is based on playing only 20 overs. Each team plays a maximum of 20 overs and scores as much as possible in the specified overs. It is designed to be an entertainment value for the cricket lover. The T20 match takes 3 hours maxi to complete a match. This format is based on aggressive batting, innovative shot-making, and high scoring, with bowlers aiming to contain runs and take wickets in short bursts. In the shortest format of the game of T20 International Cricket, the following players have hit the most sixes:

  1. Shahid Afridi
  • Team: Pakistan
  • Matches: 398
  • ODI Sixes: 351
  1. Chris Gayle
  • Team: West Indies
  • Matches: 301
  • ODI Sixes: 331
  1. Rohit Sharma
  • Team: India
  • Matches: 262
  • ODI Sixes: 323
  1. Sanath Jayasuriya
  • Team: Sri Lanka
  • Matches: 445
  • ODI Sixes: 270
  1. MS Dhoni
  • Team: India
  • Matches: 350
  • ODI Sixes: 229
  1. Eoin Morgan
  • Team: England
  • Matches: 248
  • ODI Sixes: 220
  1. AB de Villiers
  • Team: South Africa
  • Matches: 228
  • ODI Sixes: 204
  1. Brendon McCullum
  • Team: New Zealand
  • Matches: 260
  • ODI Sixes: 200
  1. Sachin Tendulkar
  • Team: India
  • Matches: 463
  • ODI Sixes: 195
  1. Saurav Ganguly
  • Team: India
  • Matches: 311
  • ODI Sixes: 190

Most Sixes In One Day International Cricket (ODIs)

ODI cricket or One Day International Cricket is a limited-overs format usually for 50 overs. In ODI matches, each team played a set number of overs. This format is designed to get the result within a single day, which is why it is known as one-day cricket. It typically takes 7-8 hours to complete a match. Each team gets one inning to score runs as much as possible in the 50 hours. ODIs balance the need for strategic play and aggressive batting, making them exciting for spectators. In the ODI cricket matches, the following players have hit the most sixes:

  1. Rohit Sharma
  • Team: India
  • Matches: 151
  • T20 Sixes: 190
  1. Martin Guptill
  • Team: New Zealand
  • Matches: 122
  • T20 Sixes: 173
  1. Glenn Maxwell
  • Team: Australia
  • Matches: 106
  • T20 Sixes: 127
  1. Aaron Finch
  • Team: Australia
  • Matches: 103
  • T20 Sixes: 125
  1. Chris Gayle
  • Team: West Indies
  • Matches: 79
  • T20 Sixes: 124
  1. Suryakumar Yadav
  • Team: India
  • Matches: 60
  • T20 Sixes: 123
  1. Jos Buttler
  • Team: England
  • Matches: 114
  • T20 Sixes: 123
  1. Paul Stirling
  • Team: Ireland
  • Matches: 134
  • T20 Sixes: 123
  1. Eoin Morgan
  • Team: England
  • Matches: 115
  • T20 Sixes: 120
  1. Virat Kohli
  • Team: India
  • Matches: 117
  • T20 Sixes: 117

Most Sixes In Test Cricket

Test matches are the oldest and most traditional form of the game. It is played over five days with each team having two innings.  It is a good direct match to test the player’s skill, endurance, and mental toughness. Test matches are conducted in three sessions in a day. The test match aims to score more runs than the opponent. This match required strategic planning and adaptability to varying conditions over five days. Test cricket is known for its longer format and strategic play, still, some players have managed to hit the number of sixes. The following players have hit the most sixes:

  1. Ben Stokes
  • Team: England
  • Matches: 102
  • Test sixes: 128
  1. Brendon McCullum
  • Team: New Zealand
  • Matches: 101
  • Test sixes: 107
  1. Adam Gilchrist
  • Team: Australia
  • Matches: 96
  • Test sixes: 100
  1. Chris Gayle
  • Team: West Indies
  • Matches: 103
  • Test sixes: 98
  1. Jacques Kallis
  • Team: South Africa
  • Matches: 166
  • Test sixes: 97
  1. Virender Sehwag
  • Team: India
  • Matches: 104
  • Test sixes: 91
  1. Tim Southee
  • Team: New Zealand
  • Matches: 100
  • Test sixes: 88
  1. Brian Lara
  • Team: West Indies
  • Matches: 131
  • Test sixes: 88
  1. Chris Cairns
  • Team: New Zealand
  • Matches: 62
  • Test sixes: 87
  1. Angelo Matthews
  • Team: Sri Lanka
  • Matches: 107
  • Test sixes: 85

FAQs:

  1. Who holds the record for the most sixes in all formats of cricket?
    • Rohit Sharma holds the record for the most sixes in all formats of cricket, with a total of 597 sixes.
  2. Which player has hit the most sixes in T20 international cricket?
    • Shahid Afridi holds the record for the most sixes in T20 international cricket, with 351 sixes.
  3. Who has hit the most sixes in One Day Internationals (ODIs)?
    • Rohit Sharma has hit the most sixes in One Day Internationals (ODIs), with a total of 323 sixes.
  4. Who tops the list of most sixes in Test matches?
    • Ben Stokes leads the list of most sixes in Test matches, with a total of 128 sixes.
  5. Which player has hit the most sixes in T20 cricket history?
    • Shahid Afridi holds the record for the most sixes in T20 cricket history.
  6. How many sixes has Rohit Sharma hit in T20 internationals?
    • Rohit Sharma has hit 190 sixes in T20 internationals.
  7. Who is the only player to hit over 300 sixes in ODI cricket?
    • Chris Gayle is the only player to hit over 300 sixes in ODI cricket.
  8. Which cricketer has hit the most sixes in Test matches for England?
    • Ben Stokes has hit the most sixes in Test matches for England.
  9. Who holds the record for the most sixes in ODI cricket by an Indian player?
    • Rohit Sharma holds the record for the most sixes in ODI cricket by an Indian player.
  10. Who is the highest six-hitter in T20 internationals for Pakistan?
    • Shahid Afridi is the highest six-hitter in T20 internationals for Pakistan.