Batters Who Have Smashed 5 Sixes in a Single Over in IPL History

Hitting six sixes in an over is the holy grail. Hitting five is only slightly less spectacular, and in the IPL it has happened on a handful of unforgettable occasions. These overs live long in the memory because they combine raw power with the pressure of a live match situation.

The most famous instance came in Sharjah in 2020, when Rahul Tewatia, written off after a painful start to his innings, launched five sixes in a single over off Sheldon Cottrell to turn a hopeless chase into one of the most remarkable wins in league history. Needing 51 from 18 balls, Tewatia's assault left the cricket world stunned.

Famous Five-Six Overs in the IPL

Rahul Tewatia's over remains the benchmark because of the context. He had struggled to 8 from 19 balls and was being ridiculed on social media. Then, with his team needing the impossible, he hit Cottrell for five consecutive sixes, finishing with 53 from 31 balls and winning the match. It was redemption in its purest sporting form.

Chris Gayle's Repeated Carnage

No discussion of six-hitting is complete without Chris Gayle. The Universe Boss hit five sixes in an over on multiple occasions during his IPL career, most memorably during his record-breaking 175 not out against Pune Warriors India in 2013, an innings that contained seventeen sixes in total.

Gayle's method was simple: stand still and swing through the line with extraordinary bat speed. Bowlers knew what was coming and still could not stop it. His ability to clear any boundary in the world made five-six overs almost routine during his peak years.

AB de Villiers and 360-Degree Destruction

AB de Villiers brought innovation to power-hitting. His five-six overs were not just about muscle but about placement, using ramps, reverse sweeps and wristy flicks to find boundaries all around the wicket. Bowlers could not set a field to him because he had no fixed hitting zones.

His assaults for Royal Challengers Bengaluru turned several matches on their head, and his strike rate of over 150 across his IPL career shows how consistently he produced these bursts.

Kieron Pollard's Finishing Power

Kieron Pollard made a career of winning matches from impossible positions for Mumbai Indians. His five-six overs typically came at the death, when his team needed twenty or more from the final over. His calm temperament under pressure was as important as his power.

Pollard's contribution to Mumbai's five titles cannot be overstated. Time and again, he produced the decisive over that turned finals and playoffs, and his six-hitting in the last two overs became one of the most feared sights in the league.

The Rarity of the Feat

To put five sixes in perspective, thousands of overs have been bowled in IPL history and only a tiny fraction have produced five maximums. It requires not just power but the right match situation, a bowler under pressure and a batter willing to take the risk ball after ball.

The IPL 2026 season added new names to the six-hitting charts, but the five-in-an-over club remains small. As batting becomes ever more aggressive, it may grow, yet each new entry will need the same blend of skill and courage.

FAQs

Who hit 5 sixes in an over in the IPL?

Rahul Tewatia's five sixes off Sheldon Cottrell in 2020 is the most famous instance, while Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Kieron Pollard have also achieved the feat.

What is special about Rahul Tewatia's five sixes?

Tewatia was struggling on 8 from 19 balls before hitting five consecutive sixes, turning a hopeless chase into a miraculous Rajasthan Royals victory at Sharjah in 2020.

Has anyone hit 6 sixes in an over in the IPL?

No batter has hit six sixes in a single over in the IPL, though several have managed five, and Yuvraj Singh famously did it in international T20 cricket.

Who has hit the most sixes in IPL history?

Chris Gayle hit the most sixes in IPL history with 357, well clear of AB de Villiers and Rohit Sharma.

Which over had the most runs in IPL history?

The most expensive overs in IPL history have conceded 36+ runs, with several instances of 36-run overs including extras.

Do five-six overs usually win matches?

Almost always. Teams that witness a five-six over from their batter win the vast majority of such matches, as the momentum shift is usually decisive.