Most Sixes in T20 Internationals: Updated List

The Mighty Hit - Most Sixes in T20 Internationals

T20 cricket is the format that brought cricket to the big hitter—the batsman with the flair, timing, and bravery to clear the boundary at will. Clearing sixes is as defining of T20 as helmets and short runs. Within this rapid-fire contest, some cricketers stand out for their consistent ability to desecrate the long boundary. This article explores the most sixes in T20 Internationals, from all-time masters to explosive innings, pulled together in an accessible, story-driven analysis.

1. All-Time Career Leaders: Today's Six-Hitting Titans

Here are the current top career six-hitters in T20 Internationals (updated to June 2025), showcasing who pulled the biggest ones most often:

Rank	Player	Nation	Sixes	Matches	Span
1	Rohit Sharma	India	205	159	2007–2024
2	Martin Guptill	New Zealand	173	122	2009–2022
3	Muhammad Waseem	UAE	165	72	2021–2024
4	Jos Buttler	England	160	137	2011–2025
5	Nicholas Pooran	West Indies	149	106	2016–2024
6	Suryakumar Yadav	India	146	83	2021–2025
7	Glenn Maxwell	Australia	137	116	2012–2024
8	Evin Lewis	West Indies	124	65	2016–2021
9	David Miller	South Africa	130	130	2010–2024
10	Paul Stirling	Ireland	129	151	2009–2025

 

Rohit Sharma, India’s “Hitman,” tops the list with an astonishing 205 sixes over a glittering 17-year career. Behind him, Martin Guptill (NZ) dominates from the open, Muhammad Waseem powers UAE’s attack from the lower-middle order, while Jos Buttler’s death-overs finishing has propelled him past 160 sixes. India’s Suryakumar Yadav, known for his improvisation and strike rate, is steadily rising, and Glenn Maxwell’s one-day frenzy includes 137 sixes.

2. Explosive Single-Innings Feats

Beyond careers, T20 is defined by moments of madness when the ball simply disappears. Let’s spotlight players who lit up matches with extraordinary six-hitting on a single day.

Sahil Chauhan (Estonia) – 18 Sixes (T20I vs Cyprus, 17 June 2024)

• Performance: 144* off 41 balls with 18 sixes and 6 fours at Episkopi
• Why it matters: Chauhan's 18 boundaries of six smashed previous records, establishing a new T20I high-water mark.

Hazratullah Zazai (Afghanistan) – 16 Sixes vs Ireland, 23 February 2019

• A 162* cameo featuring 11 fours and 16 sixes in Dehradun—one of the game’s most brutal assault innings.

Finn Allen (New Zealand) – 16 Sixes vs Pakistan, 17 January 2024

• Matching Zazai, Allen struck 137 (62 balls) with five fours and 16 sixes. Recognized by Cricket Olympics as topping T20 innings.
• Reddit buzz captured fan amazement:

“The crazy part is he hit 16 sixes … this game he finally broke the record”.

Other notable efforts:

• Zeeshan Kukikhel (Hungary) – 15 sixes vs Austria, June 2022.
• Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) – 15 vs Gambia, Oct 2024; Raza also slung 27 sixes in that team total.
• And more from global Associate nations.

Quick summary: Elite hitters breaking 15+ sixes in one match is rare. The top single-innings record stands at 18 by Chauhan, followed by multiple 16‑six innings by world-class and emerging players.

3. Understanding the Trends and Context

What drives these power-hitting spectacles? Here are the key insights:

1. Rise of Associate nations: Players from UAE (Waseem), Estonia (Chauhan), Hungary, Zimbabwe (Raza), and Pakistan (Allen's impact bridging domestic and international records) reveal global T20 is maturing.
2. Shift in batting roles: Early-innings smashers like Guptill and Rohit contrast with players like Buttler and Maxwell, known for death overs brutality—demonstrating strategic six-hitting across innings.
3. Short boundaries & aggressive formats: Smaller grounds, flat decks, and batting-centric rules create six-hitting playgrounds.
4. Leagues sharpen talents: IPL, BBL, CPL, and MLC offer match practice and attitude honing under full Covid crowds, translating to more international firepower.

4. Player-by-Player Journey & Style

Let’s break down the careers, strengths, and six-hitting evolutions of the top-tier players with over 140 career sixes.

Rohit Sharma (India) – 205 sixes, legendary career

• Architect of dominance: With 205 sixes in 159 games, his 32 average and 140+ strike rate reflects sustained excellence.
• Key highlights:
• T20 World Cup hero: eight sixes off Mitchell Starc in 2024 Super Eights match.
• Match-winner versatility: delivers across powerplay (opening) and middle overs.

Martin Guptill (NZ) – 173 sixes, opener’s power

• Clearing the rope since 2009, Guptill averages 31.8 with a top T20I score of 105.
• Master of calculated aggression in early overs.

Muhammad Waseem (UAE) – 165 sixes, fast-rising associate

• 39.7 T20I average and 155 strike rate indicate an explosive career unfolding quickly.
• A key spark for UAE’s batting fortunes.

Jos Buttler (England) – 160 sixes, finish-line wizard

• His finishing ability spans six-hitting and acceleration under pressure.
• Known for luxury lofts, late overs power, and strike rate around 147.

Nicholas Pooran (WI) – 149 sixes, now retired at 29

• Captaincy tenure ended with his retirement on June 9, 2025, after amassing 2,275 runs and 149 sixes.
• A Caribbean slugger who sacrificed longevity for sheer impact.

Suryakumar Yadav (India) – 146 sixes, improvisation king

• Combining placement, angles, and innovation, SKY averages 38 with a 169 strike rate.
• A specialist in high-pressure chase situations.

Glenn Maxwell (Australia) – 137 sixes, bonkers brilliance

• Irregular but electrifying; 137 sixes and astonishing strike rates in big innings.
• T20I centuries and chase roles amplify his threats.

Evin Lewis, David Miller, Paul Stirling – Consistent hitters

• Windies opener Lewis (124 sixes), Miller (130), and Stirling (129) have all solidified their places with regular boundary-hitting.

5. Team Sixes: Collective Boundary Barrages

As much as individuals shine, T20 is also a team boundary competition. The most team sixes in a single T20I innings are:

• West Indies – 13 sixes vs. South Africa, Centurion, March 2023.
• India – 21 sixes vs. Sri Lanka, Indore, Dec 2017.
• Austria – 21 sixes vs. Romania, 2019.

These show how teams have increasingly adopted boundary strategies—aiming to outgun opponents in pure hitting terms.

6.  T20 World Cup Sixes: Tournament Clout

While individual matches earn headlines, boundary counting in international cups brings prestige:

• Chris Gayle leads T20 World Cups with 63 sixes, followed by Rohit with around 50.
• In the 2024 World Cup, Rohit smashed 200+ career sixes with a boundary blitz that included eight sixes in a pivotal match vs. Australia.

7. What’s Driving the Six-Hitting Revolution?

Understanding current trends helps explain why sixes are more common and celebrated than ever:

1. Edgier batting rules: Fewer over penalties for wides/no-balls and shorter boundaries encourage power hitting.
2. Training and equipment: Bats now have reinforced sweet spots, players train for aerial ball control, and coaches focus on lofted shots.
3. Mental shift: From rotating strike to crushing it—T20 battle cries empower batsmen to swing for six from the first ball.
4. Associate emergence: Teams like UAE, Estonia, and Zimbabwe are nurturing offensive players who now lead global boundary tallies.
5. Leagues’ influence: Engagement in T20 leagues like IPL and MLC helps overseas players bring new hitting styles into their international performances.

8.  Looking Ahead: New Names to Watch

Continue your six-hunting with these rising talents:

• Sahil Chauhan (Estonia) – A breakout 18-six innings suggest more fireworks ahead.
• Muhammad Waseem (UAE) – Already ranked third overall; could climb further.
• Abhishek Sharma (India) – In Feb 2025, hit India’s highest-ever individual T20I six count (13 sixes in one knock), a sign of things to come.
• Finn Allen (NZ) – His 16 sixes against Pakistan and consistent domestic performances indicate expanding international potential.
• Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe) – His team record of 27 sixes (towards 344 total) shows big-match adaptability.

9.  Reflecting on Form vs. Legacy

While current names bring fresh dynamics, there’s an unmatched aura around retired legends:

• Nicholas Pooran’s retirement (June 2025) leaves a vacuum: 149 sixes by age 29 confirms his explosive class.
• Chris Gayle – Though not active since 2021, his 124 T20I sixes still inspire boundary respect.
• Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli, and others—still near the 120–130 mark with decades of strategic hitting.

10. Expert Take: What Coaches Say

• Powerplay message: Openers like Guptill and Surrey’s Chauhan often target powerplay overs to swing momentum early.
• Death overs technique: Buttler, Maxwell, and Yadav practice reverse swings, switch hits, and control lofting for gamer-targeted sixes.
• Shot innovation: SKY and Allen use unorthodox angles, improvised flicks, and flat-bat wristy violence to surprise bowlers.

11. Global Impact: Where the Hitting Is Hot

• South Asia: India’s crowd draw is global, making Rohit, SKY, and Abhishek faces of six-hitting.
• Caribbean flair: West Indies produce power – Lewis, Raza, and Pooran have brought the long ball tradition forwards.
• Emerging countries: Estonia, UAE, Zimbabwe, Hong Kong, Nepal are redefining six-hitting at unexpected levels.

Final Word

If there’s a heartbeat in T20 cricket, it’s measured by the flight of the six. From Rohit Sharma smashing boundaries to Sahil Chauhan rewriting one-innings records, the six remains cricket’s most spectacular score.

Key takeaways:

• 205 sixes by Rohit makes him the all-time T20I leader.

• Chauhan’s 18 sixes in a single T20I innings is the standout explosive performance.

• Emerging stars are pushing the envelope—Waseem, Allen, Abhishek bring new threat levels.

• Retired powerhouses like Pooran and Gayle remind us that staying atop the boundary chart requires professionalism and adaptability.

As cricket grows, six-hitting evolves. Expect the next generation to challenge these figures:

• Players to watch: Chauhan, Waseem, Allen, Abhishek—are already rewriting norms.

• Legends' legacy: Names like Rohit, Buttler, Maxwell will stay benchmarks.

• Tactical play: Expect coaches to increasingly design innings around six-hitting.

Final Reflection

A six is more than just six runs—it’s a statement. It says, I can take over this game. From a street cricket mindset to the lights of a packed stadium, six-hitters have become cricket’s modern-day heroes. Their legacy can be counted in 205 sixes, 18-six innings, and countless moments when time stops for just that long, long hit.

Here’s to the next six—let the hunt continue.