Cricket is a game of entertainment that becomes more interesting as the format gets shorter. A lot of value is added to the game with the entry of the crowd. And the crowd loves sixes, whether it is the T-20 format or ODI. There are some players across the world who can hit a six on almost any ground in the world, no matter how big the boundaries are. The game has changed a lot in the past 20 years. However, cricket is not just about boundaries or wickets, scoring a six is the maximum a batsman can achieve in a delivery. These are the moments that help a batsman in upping the ante and giving the crowd moments of joy. Hitting sixes requires both power and timing. While some players build their innings playing shots along the ground, some prefer to go all guns blazing. We’ve compiled the list of 6 batsmen with maximum sixes in the international cricket.
6. Sanath Jayasuriya: The left-handed explosive Sri Lankan batsman redefined the way openers used to approach the game with his flamboyance and aggressive style of batting. In his 22 years long career, Jayasuriya hit 352 sixes in 586 matches that he played across the formats. Out of which, he hit 270 sixes in ODIs and 59 sixes in Tests. The explosive batsman has also hit 2486 boundaries across the formats. He is the greatest opener to ever have played for the island nation. Many bowlers tried to exploit Jayasuriya’s medium height by using short deliveries but the southpaw mastered the art of hitting the cut, pool and hook shots.
5. MS Dhoni: The former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni started his career with a blast. Dhoni used to deal only in boundaries at the beginning of his career. The Ranchi-born Indian batsman is also the one who introduced the helicopter shot that helped him in hitting yorker deliveries for sixes. In his 15 years long career, Dhoni has hit 359 sixes in 538 matches that he has played across the formats. His ability to clear even the biggest boundaries in the world has helped him earn the tag of the best finisher in the world cricketer. Dhoni has won his side many matches from almost impossible situations. He has also hit 1486 boundaries in his career.
4. Brendon McCullum: Brendon McCullum led his side in the 2015 edition of the 50-over World Cup and single-handedly took his side to the finals with his explosive batting. The modern-day great has won his side numerous matches in his 14-year long career. The wicketkeeper-batsman shocked the world with his explosive 158 run inning in the first match of the Indian Premier League. In 432 matches that McCullum played for his side, McCullum has hit 398 sixes. It was due to his aggressive style of batting that McCullum made the record of scoring the fastest fifty in the history of the World Cup. He has also hit 1552 boundaries across the formats.
3. Rohit Sharma: A sweet timer of the ball, the Indian vice-captain Rohit Sharma is arguably one of the cleanest hitters of the cricket ball. The three double centuries hit by Rohit in the ODI cricket are the proof of his eloquent batting approach. Rohit has the power to clear any boundary in the world very easily. One of the greatest Indian openers, Rohit has transformed the approach of opening batting and has won Indian many matches with his skills. He has hit 423 sixes in 364 matches that he has played across the formats. The hitman has also hit 1278 boundaries across the formats.
2. Shahid Afridi: The former Pakistani all-rounder has the record of hitting the longest sixes in his career. He also had the record of the fastest century in ODI cricket against his name for a long time. The Pakistani all-rounder has played many unimaginable knocks to fetch victory for his side. He started his career at an early age of 16 and went on to play for almost two decades. Afridi is second on the list with 476 sixes that he has hit in 524 matches across the formats. While scoring 11,000 international runs for his side, Afridi has also hit 1052 boundaries across the formats.
1. Chris Gayle: This is no brainer. Chris Gayle is probably one of the most if not the most ruthless hitter in the history of cricket. Despite ordinary footwork by international standards, Gayle has been able in destroying several bowling attacks with the use of his brutal hitting power and eye-hand coordination. Gayle can change the fate of any match with his ruthless hitting capability. The West Indian southpaw has hit 534 sixes in 462 games across the formats, which is the most by any batsman. He has also hit 2312 boundaries in his career.
