Most sixes in a T20 innings: West Indian master-blaster Chris Gayle shares perch with Estonia's Sahil Chauhan
Gayle hit 18 sixes playing for Dhaka Dynamites in the BPL 2017 while Chauhan matched the tally in a T20I match against Cyprus seven years later. Get list.
Cricket
Twenty20 or T20 cricket’s soaring popularity across the world can be attributed to the action-packed contests, with an abundance of sixes and fours.
The highly entertaining 20-over-a-side cricket will also be a part of the Olympics at Los Angeles 2028. When talking about T20 cricket, especially sixes, it’s hard to not mention Chris Gayle and the plethora of records he boasts.
West Indian batter Chris Gayle jointly holds the record for most sixes in an innings in T20 with Estonia's Sahil Chauhan. The Jamaican hit 18 sixes during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2017 final between Rangpur Riders and Dhaka Dynamite.
Chris Gayle, nicknamed the Universe Boss, opened the innings for Rangpur Riders and went on to score an unbeaten 146 runs off 69 balls.
The Caribbean star had an uncharacteristic slow start and hit just two sixes in the first 10 overs. However, the remaining overs saw Gayle go on a rampage, punishing every opposition bowler who crossed his path.
Chris Gayle’s explosive innings helped the Rangpur Riders reach 206/1 in 20 overs, which were enough to lead them to their first BPL title. Gayle, in fact, bettered his own record for most sixes in a T20 innings in Bangladesh.
Though no one has been able to outdo the West Indian ace, Sahil Chauhan matched Gayle's record seven years later in a match against Cyprus.
Most sixes in an innings in T20
Most sixes in an innings in IPL
The previous best was 17 sixes struck during an Indian Premier League (IPL) match in 2013. Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Chris Gayle fired 17 maximums against the now defunct Pune Warriors on his way to an unbeaten 175 off 66, the highest individual score in T20.
Chris Gayle also recorded the fastest century in T20 cricket in the same innings, reaching the milestone in just 30 balls. The blitzkrieg helped RCB to 263/5, which is the highest score in IPL history. They won by 130 runs.
The West Indian’s 17 sixes still stands as the most number of sixes hit by a player in a single innings of an IPL match.
Most sixes in an innings in T20 Internationals
As mentioned earlier, Sahil Chauhan hit 18 sixes against Cyprus in a bilateral series match in Episkopi to log the most sixes in an innings in a T20I match. Chasing 192, Chauhan scored an unbeaten 144 of just 41 deliveries to take his side home with seven overs and six wickets in hand.
Meanwhile, the Indian record belongs to Rohit Sharma for hitting 10 sixes against Sri Lanka in 2017.
Captaining the Indian cricket team, Rohit Sharma decimated the Lankan bowling attack with 10 maximums on his way to 118 off 43, taking India to their highest T20I total of 260/5.