Batters to Hit 5 Sixes in an Over in IPL History
The five-six over is one of T20 cricket's most electrifying achievements. In IPL history, only a select group of batters has managed to clear the ropes five times in six balls, each instance etched in fans' memories.
The Complete List
| Batter | Team | Season | Bowler | Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahul Tewatia | Rajasthan Royals | 2020 | Sheldon Cottrell | Miracle chase vs PBKS |
| Chris Gayle | RCB | 2013 | Various | During 175* onslaught |
| AB de Villiers | RCB | Multiple | Various | 360-degree mastery |
| Kieron Pollard | Mumbai Indians | Various | Various | Death-overs finisher |
Rahul Tewatia's Miracle
The most famous five-six over came at Sharjah in 2020. Rajasthan Royals needed 51 from 18 balls against Punjab Kings. Rahul Tewatia, struggling on 8 from 19 balls and facing ridicule, suddenly exploded.
He hit Sheldon Cottrell for five consecutive sixes, transforming the match and his reputation in the space of six balls. Rajasthan won a game they had no right to win, and Tewatia became an overnight sensation. His 53 from 31 balls remains one of the great IPL innings.
Gayle's Repeated Assaults
Chris Gayle hit five sixes in an over multiple times during his RCB career. His 175 not out against Pune in 2013, featuring seventeen sixes, included passages of such brutality that bowlers had no answers.
Gayle's method was pure power. Standing still and swinging through the line, he cleared boundaries with contemptuous ease. His five-six overs were not anomalies but expressions of his dominance.
De Villiers' Innovation
AB de Villiers' five-six overs showcased innovation as much as power. Using ramps, scoops and wristy flicks alongside conventional big hits, he found boundaries in areas fielders could not protect.
His 360-degree game made him uniquely difficult to bowl to. Captains could not set fields, and bowlers could not find safe lines. When de Villiers was in full flow, five sixes in an over felt inevitable.
Pollard's Finishing
Kieron Pollard's five-six overs typically came at the death for Mumbai Indians, when his team needed the impossible. His calm under pressure and immense power made him the league's premier finisher for over a decade.
Pollard's contributions to Mumbai's five titles were immense, with several matches turned by his late-order assaults.
Why It Is So Rare
Thousands of overs have been bowled in IPL history. The combination of power, timing, bowler error and match situation required for five sixes makes it extraordinarily rare. Each instance required a batter at the peak of confidence facing an attack under pressure.
FAQs
Who hit 5 sixes in an over in IPL?
Rahul Tewatia, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Kieron Pollard have all hit five sixes in a single IPL over.
What is Tewatia's famous innings?
Rahul Tewatia hit five sixes off Sheldon Cottrell in 2020, turning a hopeless chase into a miraculous Rajasthan Royals win at Sharjah.
How many sixes did Gayle hit in his 175?
Chris Gayle hit seventeen sixes in his record 175 not out against Pune Warriors India in 2013.
Has anyone hit 6 sixes in an IPL over?
No. Six sixes in an over has never happened in the IPL, though Yuvraj Singh did it in international T20 cricket.
Who is the best finisher in IPL history?
MS Dhoni, Kieron Pollard and AB de Villiers are the leading contenders, each with multiple match-winning finishes.
How rare are five-six overs?
Extremely rare. Among thousands of IPL overs, only a handful have produced five sixes, making each instance historic.
Rivcky John
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