Home of the biggest T20 league on the planet, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen most of the powerful ball hitters in world cricket over the past 15 seasons showcase their brute strength.
Whether it is the openers, middle-order batsmen, or the finishers, batters in T20 cricket need to have the proper strength and technique to clear the ropes to succeed over a long period and make match-winning contributions.
Batsmen now even practice simulated range-hitting – that is, they have their batting sessions on the pitch and aim to clear the boundary ropes; the demand for sixes has added a new dimension to batting.
Here, we will have a look at the longest sixes that have been measured in the history of the IPL and the batsmen who have hit them:
Albie Morkel – 124m
Chennai Super Kings batsman Albie Morkel smoked a 124-meter biggie during the 2008 IPL when facing Deccan Chargers spinner Pragyan Ojha. To a short ball from Ojha, Morkel pulled it on the leg side and the ball flew out of the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Despite 15 seasons of the IPL completed, this six from the South African finisher still remains the longest-recorded six in the league. Also, while many other websites claim this hit to be of 125 meters, we checked ESPNcricinfo’s live commentary that confirmed 124 meters shown by the broadcasters on the telly.
Praveen Kumar – 124m
A surprise name in this list, and at the top, is that of former Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Praveen Kumar. During the 2008 IPL game against Rajasthan Royals at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, standing tall and in his crease, Praveen clubbed RR off-spinner Yusuf Pathan for a big sixer down the ground over long-on that was measured to be 124 meters.
Adam Gilchrist – 122m
Into the last phase of his career, having already retired from international cricket, Adam Gilchrist was doing a great job at Punjab Kings (then Kings XI Punjab). In the 2011 home match at Dharamsala against RCB, Gilchrist clattered a 53-ball century, which also included a jaw-dropping 122-meter six to pacer Charl Langeveldt.
The Australian picked up Charl Langeveldt’s slower length ball and deposited it much behind the deep midwicket fielder, into the second tier. Old yet gold was Adam Gilchrist.
Robin Uthappa – 120m
Robin Uthappa was one of India’s initial white-ball specialists and had already made a name for himself in the format with the Indian team and in the IPL.
The former RCB batsman also displayed his power coupled with immaculate timing, when, in the 2010 IPL, he walloped Mumbai Indians seamer Dwayne Bravo’s slower delivery over deep mid-wicket for a long six, calculated to be 120 meters, at the Brabourne Stadium.
Chris Gayle – 119m
The self-proclaimed ‘Universe Boss’, Chris Gayle, is arguably the greatest-ever T20 batsman who holds innumerable records in the shortest format. At the peak of his powers, opening for RCB, Gayle created the record for the fastest IPL century, off 30 balls against the now-defunct Pune Warriors India in the IPL 2013 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, on his way to smashing 175 runs off 66 balls.
During his monstrous knock, the left-handed opener whacked 17 sixes, one of which, to the left-arm spinner, Ali Murtaza, was recorded to be 119 meters as Gayle got on his knee and slogged it over long-on. You can get an idea of how long the six was by the fact that the ball goes over the Chinnaswamy roof.
Ross Taylor – 119m
Batting for RCB during the inaugural season in 2008, New Zealand batter Ross Taylor bludgeoned a six to CSK seamer and his compatriot Jacob Oram on the leg side – which is known to be a favored area that Taylor targets – that went into the upper tier of the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Stand and deliver from Ross Taylor. This maximum was measured at 119 meters from the Kiwi star.
Yuvraj Singh – 119m
There perhaps wouldn’t be a six list completed without Yuvraj Singh’s name in it, one of the most stylish six hitters of all time. The IPL 2009 was moved to South Africa, where Yuvraj had established his legacy as a disdainful yet clean ball muscle during the 2007 T20 World Cup.
In a match against CSK at Centurion, a length ball from pacer Albie Morkel was met with the ferocious bat swing of Yuvraj Singh, who connected the ball pristinely and it went sailing over the leg-side boundary. The ball was close to even flying out of the ground; the six was estimated to be 119 meters long.
Here is the list of the longest sixes hit in the IPL history:
| Batsman | Six distance | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Albie Morkel (CSK) | 124 | 2008 |
| Praveen Kumar (RCB | 124 | 2008 |
| Adam Gilchrist (KXIP) | 122 | 2011 |
| Robin Uthappa (RCB) | 120 | 2010 |
| Chris Gayle (RCB) | 119 | 2013 |
| Ross Taylor (RCB) | 119 | 2008 |
Conclusion:
Six-hitting is a vaunted and in-demand quality in T20 cricket. IPL franchises would rather prefer a batter who can hit any length delivery for a maximum over just the classy stroke makers who don’t hit sixes frequently.
FAQs:
Who has hit the longest six in IPL history?
CSK’s Albie Morkel smashed a 124-meter six in the 2008 IPL to Deccan Chargers spinner Pragyan Ojha.
Who hit the longest six in IPL 2022?
Punjab Kings’ Liam Livingstone clattered a 117-meter six to Mohammed Shami in IPL 2022 leaving everyone stunned.
What is the biggest maximum hit by Rohit Sharma in the IPL?
When batting for Deccan Chargers in IPL 2009, Rohit Sharma cleared the ropes for a big sixer that was measured at 115 off KKR pacer Mashrafe Mortaza.
