IPL history: 5 batsmen with the most sixes in the tournament

The excitement for the twelfth edition of the Indian Premier League has already started to build. Less than 3 weeks remain for IPL 2019. Thousands of restless fans will fill stadiums to the brim in order to watch their favourite players smash the ball to all sides of the park.

It is true that bowlers have become innovative and adapted to the T20 format well. Yet, tickets are sold out due to big-hitting batsmen. Fans get their monies worth when they witness a high-scoring encounter in which the ball is smacked to all sides of the ground.

It will be intriguing to know which batsmen has accumulated the most sixes in the IPL in all these years.

Without further ado, here are the 5 batsmen with the most sixes in the history of the tournament.

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#5 Rohit Sharma (184 sixes)

Rohit Sharma in action for MI

The Hitman, Rohit Sharma comes in 5th on the list of most sixes. The right-handed batsman represented Deccan Chargers for the inaugural three editions of the IPL and has been a vital cog for the Mumbai Indians since then.

MI's skipper has played 173 IPL matches overall in which he has amassed a total of 4493 runs at an average of 31.86 and a strike rate of 131.02.

Rohit has 34 fifties and a solitary century in the IPL as well. The naturally-gifted batsmen is 3rd on the list of all-time highest run-getters in the IPL.

Sharma is all about grace and elegance. He scores runs at a blistering pace once he gets going. The 31-year-old has also hit a whopping 379 fours and 184 sixes in the IPL.

The Nagpur-born player played some decent knocks for India during their recent tour of New Zealand. He can prove to be instrumental for the Mumbai-based franchise in the upcoming edition of IPL as well.

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#4 Suresh Raina (185 sixes)

Suresh Raina

IPL's all-time highest run-getter, Suresh Raina comes in at 4th on the list of most sixes in the tournament.

The Muradnagar-born player has an excellent record: 4985 runs in 176 IPL matches at an average of 34.37 and a strike rate of 138.47. Raina also has an IPL century and 35 IPL fifties to his name.

The hard-hitting batsman has a knack of scoring boundaries and is also a calm player under pressure -- a delight for all spectators. The world-class finisher has hit 448 fours and 185 sixes in his IPL career.

Raina has not been in the best of form recently and last played for the Indian national team in July, 2018. The upcoming season of IPL holds paramount importance for him as he will be looking to get back his form in order to make a return for the Men in Blue.

#3 MS Dhoni (186 sixes)

MS Dhoni holds the CSK bunch together

MS Dhoni's IPL career is a pure masterclass. The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman has accumulated a total of 4016 runs in the 175 matches he has played.

Mahi also has a blistering strike rate of 138.19 in the IPL as well as a handsome average of 40.16. The classy finisher has played multiple match-winning knocks and also led Chennai Super Kings to three IPL trophies as well as two Champions League T20 titles.

A fan-favourite, Mahi is 7th on the list of all-time highest run-getters in the IPL and has smacked 275 fours and 186 sixes in the coveted T20 tournament.

The Ranchi-born player has been in good batting form in the recent past. After playing a few crucial knocks during India's tour of New Zealand, MSD is proving his mettle against Australia at home. He hit an important 59 off 72 in the first ODI against the Aussies on March 2, 2019.

The batting powerhouse has proved his worth time and again. Besides possessing phenomenal leadership skills, Dhoni's ability to read situations and different players - almost to perfection at times - makes him an invaluable resource.

#2 AB de Villiers (186 sixes)

ABD

Note: Even though Dhoni and ABD are tied on the number of sixes, the South African player gets 2nd rank as he took fewer number of matches to get to the landmark.

ABD holds the record for the fastest 50, 100, and 150 in ODIs. After representing Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in IPL's inaugural 3 seasons, De Villiers has played for Royal Challengers Bangalore since 2011.

The 35-year-old is the ideal match winner and an idol for youngsters looking to make it big in international cricket. The white ball specialist is also an outstanding fielder and his athleticism also contributes to the team.

The top-order batsman has played many crucial innings with RCB skipper Virat Kohli and has 28 fifties and 3 centuries in the IPL.

Another brilliant finisher, ABD is known for his unorthodox shots and has blasted a total of 326 fours and 186 sixes in the IPL. He had a brilliant outing in the previous edition as he amassed 480 runs in 12 matches at a breathtaking strike rate of 174.54 and an average of 53.33.

The South African player retired from all forms of international cricket in May 2018 but still plays in multiple domestic T20 leagues.

He has been in immaculate batting form, proving his worth for the Rangpur Riders in the Bangladesh Premier League 2018-19 and now for the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League.

He will give a big boost for RCB in IPL 2019 if he can continue with the same form.

IPL 2019: Delhi Capitals Squad - Complete list of Players in DC Team for IPL 2019

#1 Chris Gayle (292 sixes)

'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle is miles ahead of all others as far as hitting sixes is concerned in the IPL. The Windies player has scored a total of 3994 runs in 112 IPL matches, putting him at 9th place in the list of highest run scorers in IPL.

GayleStorm, as the 39-year-old is popularly known for his power hitting, has blasted 324 fours and 292 sixes in the IPL.

The Jamaica-born player has also scored the most number of centuries (6) in the tournament. Chris Gayle is all about brute force and has the ability to single-handedly wreak havoc for the opposition.

The Windies player has also been used as a handy off-spinner occasionally. He represented Kolkata Knight Riders from 2008 to 2010 and then Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2011 to 2017.

Gayle has been a part of Kings XI Punjab since IPL 2018. His performance was noteworthy in the previous edition as well. He made 368 runs in 11 matches at an average of 40.88 and strike rate of 146.03.

The legendary batsman is also reconsidering his international retirement after taking into consideration his recent batting form and exceptional performances against England.