Most Sixes in a Calendar Year in All Formats

Think about the scenario of a match. The bowler is trying hard to take a wicket, while the batsman is trying hard to protect it and score runs simultaneously. The pace of the match gets slower.

Only boundaries and the fall of wickets can pump up some action in the game. The sixes hold superiority in putting rush in the match. When the ball hits the bat, we hear a soothing tapping sound, and the ball flies away toward the stands. It is like witnessing a shooting star.

It is a great feeling for the batsman and the viewers, but certainly not for the bowler. Witnessing a batsman hitting sixes is like watching a gymnast show the moves; both are on top of their performance.

So, considering the beauty of the sixes, we are going to check out some interesting facts about sixes: the year with the most sixes, the player hitting the most sixes in a year, and much more!

Take a glimpse of all the players who hit the most sixes in a calendar year across all formats!

Most Sixes in the Calendar Year - 2022

In 2022, we all witnessed the highest number of sixes in a calendar year. It was the year of multiple cricket contests, including the ICC T20 World Cup, Asia Cup, Indian Premier League, and many others.

Talking about the collective 2022, including every cricket contest (domestic or international), every team, and every player, the stats are incredible.

In 2022, 3728 players scored more than 13,596 sixes in 1379 matches. The total runs scored in the year were 363750, including 87 centuries and 1578 half-centuries, with an average strike rate of 20.85.

Batsman with the Most Sixes in a Calendar Year

Muhammad Waseem, from the UAE, holds the record for most sixes in the calendar year 2023. Waseem hit 101 sixes in 101 matches. He became the first cricketer to hit the greatest number of sixes in a calendar year.

Most Sixes in T20I in the Calendar Year

Ever since the T20 format came into the limelight, cricket has become an action-packed contest. Batsmen have no choice but to hit their maximums and play less defensively, whereas bowlers have no choice but to engage in confrontation and cover for those maximums.

T20I is one of the cricket formats with the highest number of sixes, and the credit goes to the smaller grounds. The game is no longer batsman-oriented. Setting and thrashing records has become the game's norm.

Let's look at the player who smashed the most sixes in a T20I in a calendar year.

Suryakumar Yadav

In 2022, he achieved excellence. Apart from being the number one T20I batsman, Suryakumar has also hit the most sixes in T20I cricket.

Playing in 31 T20I matches and scoring 1164 runs, Suryakumar Yadav hit 68 sixes with an average and strike rate of 46.56 and 187.43, respectively.

The UAE's Muhammad Waseem follows Suryakumar Yadav in the rankings. 2023 was the prime of Waseem’s career; the batsman hit 54 sixes in 23 T20I matches with an average strike rate of 39.22 and 162.52, respectively.

In October 2022, Suryakumar was the third-highest scorer with 239 runs across six innings in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia.

Rohit Sharma - The Hitman

Rohit Sharma, the Indian hit machine, would be the player who has hit the most sixes in recent T20I matches. The current captain of the India squad for the T20 World Cup, Rohit Sharma, has played over 157 matches between 2007 and 2024. Rohit hit over 190 sixes, followed by MJ Guptill with 173 sixes.

Most Sixes in ODI in a Calendar Year 

Rohit Sharma is here again. He has hit the most sixes in ODI in a calendar year, which is 2023. Rohit played 26 innings this year and hit 67 sixes. When it comes to hitting bowls over the boundary line, Rohit Sharma is ruthless.

Shahid Afridi – Most Sixes in ODI Career

Currently, Shahid Afridi holds the record for most sixes in ODI matches. During his career span of 1996–2015, Shahid Afridi has played 398 matches, scored 8064 runs, and hit 351 sixes.

Chris Gayle, with a record of 331 sixes, follows Shahid Afridi. Both Shahid Afridi and Chris Gayle have retired from international cricket, but whoever follows these two has yet to play some more cricket.

Yes, Rohit Sharma ranks 3rd when it comes to hitting the most sixes in his ODI career. From 2007 to 2023, Rohit Sharma hit a total of 323 sixes. It appears that he will break records this year and reach the top of the list.

Most Sixes in Tests in a Calendar Year

When it comes to hitting the most sixes in Test matches in a calendar year, Brendon McCullum of New Zealand is ruling the charts. Pulling out the best of his performance, Brendon hit 33 sixes in Test cricket in 2014.

Young Indian batters and exceptional Test batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 23 sixes in a single series against England in the ICC World Test Championship in 2024, follow Brendon.

Ben Stokes – Most Sixes in Test 

Ben Stokes from England holds the record for most sixes in Test cricket. Between 2013 and 2024, Ben Stokes played 102 Test matches, scored 6361 runs, and hit 128 sixes.

Brendon McCullum, who hit 107 sixes between 2004 and 2016, follows Ben.