Top 10 Batters With the Highest Number of Sixes in International Cricket
Introduction
Sixes are the most thrilling element of modern cricket. They represent dominance, confidence, and the ability to shift momentum instantly. As cricket has evolved into a more attacking sport, power-hitting has become a crucial part of batting across formats — Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
The leaderboard of the most sixes in international cricket highlights players who changed the very definition of batting aggression.
Based on combined data from all formats, here are the top 10 batters with the highest number of international sixes, reflecting three generations of cricket and three very different styles of big hitting.
1. Rohit Sharma (India) – 642 Sixes
Rohit Sharma stands at the top of the list with 642 sixes, making him the greatest six-hitter in international cricket history. What separates Rohit from others is not just the volume but the elegance with which he clears the boundary.
Across formats, his pull shot has become iconic, and his ability to dispatch even good deliveries over the ropes makes him a once-in-a-generation player.
Rohit’s success comes from timing rather than brute power, allowing him to score sixes on both fast tracks and turning pitches. With several years still potentially left in his career, his record may go unchallenged for a very long time.
2. Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 553 Sixes
Chris Gayle, known as the “Universe Boss,” held the aura of cricket’s most feared power hitter long before T20 leagues became global. With 553 sixes, he sits second on the all-format list.
Gayle’s sheer muscle power, long levers, and intimidating presence made him unstoppable on his day.
Whether in ODIs, Tests, or T20Is, Gayle’s philosophy remained the same — punish anything in his zone. His record includes countless innings where he single-handedly destroyed opposition attacks. Gayle set the template for modern power hitting, and even after retirement, his style defines the T20 era.
3. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 476 Sixes
Shahid Afridi was one of cricket’s earliest global superstars of big hitting. Nicknamed “Boom Boom” for a reason, Afridi smashed 476 sixes in his international career.
He played without fear, often swinging from ball one, making him a cult figure in world cricket.
While consistency was never his strength, excitement certainly was. Afridi’s strike rates across formats were decades ahead of their time. His ODI innings of 37-ball 102 and numerous game-changing cameos in T20Is remain iconic. He influenced a generation of aggressive Pakistani cricketers who embraced fearless batting.
4. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) – 398 Sixes
Brendon McCullum revolutionized New Zealand cricket with his aggressive mindset. With 398 sixes, he ranks fourth on the list.
McCullum’s legacy goes beyond numbers; he changed the culture of the sport itself. Under his leadership, New Zealand adopted a fearless, positive style of cricket.
His 158* in the first-ever IPL match and 302 in Test cricket are prime examples of how he combined orthodox technique with relentless aggression. McCullum didn’t just hit sixes — he hit them in pressure situations, often against the new ball.
5. Jos Buttler (England) – 387 Sixes
Jos Buttler, England’s modern white-ball phenomenon, sits fifth with 387 sixes, and he is still actively adding to the total.
Already considered one of the greatest limited-overs batters of all time, Buttler’s range is unmatched. Reverse scoops, switch-hits, slogs, lofted drives — he has every shot.
Buttler played a massive role in England’s white-ball revolution after 2015, turning them into a fearless, boundary-driven batting side. His strike rates in ODIs and T20Is are among the highest in history, and he continues to be England’s most destructive finisher and opener in T20 cricket.
6. Martin Guptill (New Zealand) – 383 Sixes
Martin Guptill, with 383 sixes, has been one of New Zealand’s most consistent openers. Known for his clean hitting and front-foot dominance, Guptill combined technique with aggression.
His unbeaten 237* in the 2015 World Cup remains the highest individual score in a knockout match.
Guptill’s ability to hit straight sixes made him a nightmare for fast bowlers. Though his career featured ups and downs, his pure hitting ability puts him among the modern greats.
7. MS Dhoni (India) – 359 Sixes
MS Dhoni, arguably India’s greatest finisher, ranks seventh with 359 sixes. He relied on raw strength, unmatched calmness, and an uncanny ability to judge bowlers.
His helicopter shot became a symbol of T20-era innovation.
Dhoni’s sixes were rarely flashy — they were purposeful. Whether taking games deep in ODIs or turning tight T20 finishes into victories, Dhoni’s six-hitting was strategic. Many of his maximums came in pressure situations, making them more memorable than their count.
8. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 352 Sixes
A pioneer of aggressive opening in ODIs, Sanath Jayasuriya sits eighth with 352 sixes. In the 1996 World Cup, he transformed one-day cricket by attacking from ball one.
Jayasuriya’s strong wrists and unique bat swing made him dangerous on both spin-friendly and seaming wickets.
His fearlessness laid the foundation for Sri Lanka’s golden era. When he fired, matches often ended early. His longevity — over two decades — also helped him accumulate a massive number of sixes across formats.
9. Eoin Morgan (England) – 346 Sixes
Eoin Morgan, the captain who rebranded England’s white-ball cricket, ranks ninth with 346 sixes.
Morgan’s technique was built for modern limited-overs cricket — stable base, high bat swing, and a mindset to attack.
He led England to the 2019 World Cup title with a philosophy centred on aggressive batting. His 17 sixes in a single ODI innings against Afghanistan is a world record and a testament to his unbelievable power-hitting capabilities.
10. AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 328 Sixes
AB de Villiers, one of the most innovative batters ever, completes the top 10 with 328 sixes.
Known as “Mr. 360°,” AB could hit sixes to any part of the ground using creativity, balance, and athleticism.
His strike rates in ODIs and T20Is were unmatched for many years, and he remains one of the few players capable of handling both pace and spin with equal mastery. AB didn’t just hit sixes — he invented new ways to hit them.
Conclusion
This list of the top 10 six-hitters reflects how cricket has evolved from conservative batting to fearless strokeplay. From the brute power of Gayle and Afridi to the elegance of Rohit Sharma and innovation of AB de Villiers, each player brought a unique style to the art of clearing the boundary.
But one man now stands alone at the top — Rohit Sharma, with 642 international sixes, the highest in cricket history.
Rohit Sharma is not just batter but poetry in motion.
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