The Indian Premier League became what it is today thanks to the fine talent it showcased. And these talents were not exclusively Indian players. Yes, there were a number of overseas players who turned the heat on with their amazing skill sets.
There were some fine batters who would dazzle the crowd with their calculated risks, and then you had names like Ab de Villiers and Chris Gayle—names who were synonymous with brute force. These players always have a strong hold on IPL betting.
In this article, we celebrate these power-hitters as we take a look at five overseas players with the most sixes in the IPL:
Overseas Players With Most Sixes in IPL:
Our list begins with Chris Gayle, who has the most sixes in IPL history. He is followed by Ab de Villers, David Warner, Kieron Pollard, and last but not least, André Russell.
Chris Gayle:
Known as ‘Universe Boss,’ Gayle made his IPL debut back in 2009. But his best came at RCB when he moved there in 2011:
- As of now, he has the most number of maximums in IPL history.
- He has played 142 matches and scored 357 maximums, the majority of which were hit on behalf of RCB.
- Opening the batting, he was ruthless against the pacers and hit six hundreds in his career.
- Gayle has retired from the IPL, but his record might stay intact even in 2024 as his closest competitor, Rohit Sharma, is still 100 sixes away.
Ab de Villiers:
Known as Mr. 360, de Villiers redefined range hitting in T20 cricket.
- And he did that on the IPL stage, where he became an inspiration to many youngsters.
- He made his IPL debut for Delhi Daredevils, but like his fellow RCBian Gayle, his best came at the franchise where he moved in 2011.
- It was here that he executed the majority of his 251 sixes, which came in 184 games.
- He has also called time on his IPL career; however, as of now, he is the overseas player with the second-most number of sixes.
David Warner:
There is no Australian legend who can overcome the fame of Warner in the IPL. He not only became a cricketing legend at SRH, where he led the team to their maiden IPL win, but also became a huge hit among the SRH fans thanks to his Instagram reels:
- After having made his debut in 2009 for Delhi Daredevils, Warner moved to SRH in 2014 and never looked back.
- He hit 226 sixes in his IPL career, the majority of them at SRH.
- Although he was sidelined unceremoniously from the franchise, he continues to play in the tournament and, therefore, will extend his six-tally when he returns to the League with Delhi Capitals.
Kieron Pollard:
During his stay with the Mumbai Indians, he became one of their best all-rounders. So much so that he has been retained every year since his debut in 2010.
- He played 189 games and went on to score 223 sixes in his IPL career.
- He was equally good against the pace as well as the spin and exploited their weaknesses at will.
- Although he has retired, as of now, he is fourth on the list of overseas batters who have the most number of maximums.
Andre Russell:
Russell became one of the biggest hitters of the ball not only for the Kolkata Knight Riders. In fact, he was the biggest hitter in IPL history.
- After having made his debut for Delhi Daredevils, Russell’s peak years came at KKR.
- He became the finisher as well as a counter-attacker for the franchise thanks to his ability to stay deep in the crease and bang the ball effortlessly.
- He hit 193 sixes in his IPL career, and with him set to return in 2024, his six-tally is bound to increase in the near future.
Final Thoughts:
These are some of the hardest-hitting batters ever known! Thanks to their strike rate, they also unknowingly increased the brand awareness of overseas players as a whole. It was after the likes of Gayle and de Villiers that IPL owners went and splurged crores on upcoming youngsters across the globe.
Youngsters like Nicholas Pooran, Cameron Green, and Tim David fulfill the image that was created by Gayle and Russell. And today, there is a huge demand for such Australian and West Indies players who can change the course of the game single-handedly.
Coaches across the world are not only on the lookout for such players, but are actively encouraging players to practice range hitting which also include playing reverse-sweep and other unconventional shots.
As the IPL reaches its nadir, owners will look to get players who can emulate the qualities shown by Gayle, Russell, and Pollard. And the youngsters will happily take up the roles which were once played by these names.
