Batters With Most Sixes in 20th Over in IPL History

The 20th over is the hardest time to bat in an IPL innings. Bowlers use yorkers, slower balls and wide lines, while batters have almost no time to settle. Despite those challenges, a small group of finishers have repeatedly cleared the boundary in the final six balls.

MS Dhoni holds the record for the most sixes in the 20th over in IPL history, with 72 sixes. No other batter is close to his total. Kieron Pollard and Ravindra Jadeja follow with 33 sixes each, while Hardik Pandya has hit 32.

Dhoni's huge lead reflects his long career as Chennai Super Kings' main finisher. He has faced hundreds of deliveries in the final over and has regularly turned difficult totals into competitive ones with late six-hitting.

Most Sixes in 20th Over in IPL History

Dhoni is the only batter to have crossed 50 sixes in the final over of IPL innings. His total of 72 is more than double that of Pollard, one of the greatest finishers the competition has seen.

1. MS Dhoni – 72 Sixes

MS Dhoni is comfortably No. 1 for the most sixes in the 20th over in IPL history.

The Chennai Super Kings legend has smashed 72 sixes from 347 balls faced in the final over. He has also scored more than 800 runs in the 20th over, another record that shows how often he has been trusted to finish an innings.

Dhoni spent most of his IPL career batting between No. 5 and No. 7. That position regularly brought him to the crease during the final five overs, and he often tried to stay until the last over before launching a full attack.

Why Dhoni Has Dominated the Final Over

Dhoni's finishing method was built around patience.

He did not always try to hit every delivery for six as soon as he arrived. He often took the chase or innings deep, waited for the bowler to make a mistake and then attacked in the final over.

His bat swing and strength made him especially dangerous against full-length bowling.

Bowlers knew they needed to land yorkers, but even a small error in length could result in a six over long-on, long-off or deep midwicket.

That made bowling the 20th over to Dhoni one of the toughest jobs in the IPL.

Dhoni's Strike Rate in the 20th Over

Dhoni has scored his final-over runs at a strike rate above 240.

That means he has averaged well over two runs per ball in the 20th over across a huge sample of deliveries.

Maintaining that rate over hundreds of balls is far more difficult than producing one or two explosive overs.

It is the combination of volume and scoring rate that separates Dhoni from the rest of the list.

Dhoni's Famous Final-Over Finishes

Dhoni has produced several famous IPL finishes.

His ability to hit straight sixes, target the leg-side boundary and punish missed yorkers made him CSK's first choice whenever a match reached the final few deliveries.

Even late in his career, teams continued to protect boundaries as soon as Dhoni arrived.

The pressure he created often forced bowlers to attempt wider yorkers and slower balls, which could also create scoring opportunities if execution was poor.

2. Kieron Pollard – 33 Sixes

Kieron Pollard hit 33 sixes in the 20th over during his IPL career.

The former Mumbai Indians all-rounder was one of the strongest finishers of his generation.

Pollard faced 189 balls in the final over and scored at a strike rate above 210.

His reach and physical strength allowed him to clear large boundaries without needing perfect timing.

Anything in his hitting zone could disappear over long-on or midwicket.

Pollard Was Mumbai Indians' Main Finisher

Mumbai often kept Pollard for the final phase of an innings.

The team usually had strong top-order and middle-order batters, which allowed Pollard to focus on finishing.

His job was simple in theory but difficult in practice: arrive late and score as quickly as possible.

Pollard played this role for more than a decade.

He was also part of all five Mumbai Indians title-winning teams between 2013 and 2020.

Pollard's Power Against Pace

Pollard was especially dangerous when fast bowlers missed their yorkers.

Full tosses and length deliveries were often hit straight down the ground.

He was also strong against slower balls because he could wait for the delivery and still generate enough power to clear the boundary.

That made him difficult to contain even when bowlers knew exactly what he wanted to do.

3. Ravindra Jadeja – 33 Sixes

Ravindra Jadeja is level with Pollard on 33 sixes in the 20th over.

Jadeja has spent much of his IPL career batting in the lower middle order, which has given him regular opportunities in the death overs.

His power game improved significantly over the second half of his career.

Earlier, he was mainly valued for his bowling and fielding. Over time, he developed into a reliable finisher who could attack pace bowling at the end of an innings.

Jadeja Hit Five Sixes in the 20th Over Against RCB

One of Jadeja's most famous IPL performances came against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2021.

Harshal Patel bowled the final over.

Jadeja attacked almost every delivery and hit five sixes during the over.

A no-ball made the over even more expensive.

Jadeja scored 37 runs from the over, making it one of the most expensive overs in IPL history.

The assault played a major role in turning CSK's total into a much more difficult target.

Jadeja's Left-Handed Advantage

Jadeja's position in the lower middle order often gives him useful matchups.

If a right-arm fast bowler misses wide yorkers or comes too straight, Jadeja can access the leg-side boundary quickly.

He is also strong against spin, although most 20th overs are bowled by pacers.

His combination of experience and power has allowed him to move alongside Pollard on the final-over six-hitting list.

4. Hardik Pandya – 32 Sixes

Hardik Pandya has hit 32 sixes in the 20th over of IPL innings.

Hardik developed as a finisher during his first spell with Mumbai Indians.

Batting alongside players such as Pollard taught him how to manage the final five overs and choose the right deliveries to attack.

His role later changed when he joined Gujarat Titans, where he often batted higher in the order.

Even with fewer opportunities in the final over during some seasons, Hardik remained among the leading six-hitters.

Hardik's Strength Against Fast Bowling

Hardik has one of the cleanest straight-hitting techniques among Indian power hitters.

He can hit a full-length ball over long-on without moving far across the crease.

He is also strong against short bowling and slower balls.

This range makes it difficult for a bowler to find a completely safe option in the 20th over.

Hardik's 32 sixes from only 134 balls also show how quickly he can score when he reaches the final over.

5. David Miller – 25 Sixes

David Miller has hit 25 sixes in the 20th over of IPL matches.

The South African left-hander has played for several IPL franchises and has built a reputation as one of the best finishers in T20 cricket.

Miller's ability to remain calm late in a chase is one of his biggest strengths.

He does not need to attack every ball.

Instead, he waits for the bowler to miss the intended length and then uses his power to clear the boundary.

Miller's Finishing Role

Miller usually bats between No. 4 and No. 6.

That position allows him to build an innings if early wickets fall but also gives him regular opportunities to finish matches.

His left-handed batting can create difficult matchups for right-arm fast bowlers trying to bowl yorkers from around the wicket.

Miller has faced 122 deliveries in the 20th over and hit 25 of them for six.

6. Rohit Sharma – 23 Sixes

Rohit Sharma has hit 23 sixes in the 20th over despite spending most of his career as a top-order batter.

That makes his place on this list unusual.

Most players near the top are specialist finishers who regularly bat in the final overs.

Rohit usually opens or bats near the top, meaning he has to remain at the crease for most of the innings before getting a chance to face the 20th over.

When he has batted that deep, however, his six-hitting ability has been clear.

Rohit's Final-Over Record Is Unusual

Rohit has faced only 91 balls in the 20th over but has hit 23 sixes.

That is roughly one six every four deliveries.

His natural ability to pull short balls and hit full deliveries straight gives him multiple scoring options.

His presence among specialist finishers underlines the quality of his power hitting.

7. Marcus Stoinis – 22 Sixes

Marcus Stoinis has hit 22 sixes in the 20th over of IPL matches.

The Australian all-rounder has often been used as a middle-order power hitter.

His strength allows him to target straight boundaries, while his experience in T20 leagues around the world helps him read slower balls.

Stoinis has faced only 84 deliveries in IPL 20th overs.

That makes his six-hitting frequency particularly impressive.

Stoinis Can Change an Innings Quickly

Stoinis does not need many deliveries to make an impact.

When he reaches the final over, his main objective is usually to find the boundary rather than protect his wicket.

That approach naturally creates risk, but it can also add 15 or 20 runs to a team total within six deliveries.

His 22 sixes place him comfortably among the best final-over hitters in IPL history.

8. Rinku Singh – 21 Sixes

Rinku Singh has already hit 21 sixes in IPL 20th overs despite having a much shorter career than most players above him.

His rise as a finisher is closely connected with one of the most famous last-over performances in IPL history.

In 2023, Kolkata Knight Riders needed 28 runs from the final five balls against Gujarat Titans.

Rinku hit five consecutive sixes and won the match.

That innings immediately established him as one of the league's most dangerous late-order hitters.

Rinku's Five Sixes Against Gujarat Titans

Yash Dayal was bowling the final over.

KKR looked almost certain to lose.

Rinku then produced one of the most unlikely finishes ever seen in the IPL.

He hit the final five legal deliveries he faced for six.

The sequence turned a nearly impossible chase into victory.

Those five sixes alone represent almost one-quarter of Rinku's current career total in 20th overs.

Why Rinku's Number Is Impressive

Rinku has faced only 79 balls in the 20th over.

He has already cleared the boundary 21 times.

That gives him one of the highest six-per-ball rates among the players on this list.

Unlike Dhoni or Pollard, he has not needed hundreds of final-over deliveries to build his total.

If he continues to receive finishing opportunities, he could move significantly higher.

9. Dinesh Karthik – 20 Sixes

Dinesh Karthik hit 20 sixes in IPL 20th overs during his long career.

Karthik played for several franchises and performed different batting roles.

During the later years of his career, he developed into a specialist finisher, particularly for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

His ability to access unusual areas of the field became a major strength.

Karthik could sweep or scoop fast bowlers behind square, making wide yorkers harder to use against him.

Karthik's Late-Career Reinvention

Karthik's most effective finishing period came late in his career.

Rather than trying to bat long innings, he focused on scoring immediately.

He worked heavily on range hitting and options behind the wicket.

That allowed him to remain effective even when bowlers packed the straight boundaries.

His 20 sixes in the final over reflect the success of that specialised role.

10. AB de Villiers – 19 Sixes

AB de Villiers hit 19 sixes in the 20th over during his IPL career.

The total may appear lower than expected for one of the league's greatest hitters, but de Villiers often finished matches before the 20th over or was dismissed while attacking earlier.

When he did reach the final over, he was extremely difficult to defend against.

He could hit yorkers, short balls and slower deliveries to almost every part of the ground.

AB's 360-Degree Hitting

Most finishers have preferred boundary areas.

AB de Villiers had almost none.

He could move across his stumps and scoop a fast bowler over fine leg, stay still and hit straight, or create room and clear extra cover.

That range made traditional death-over plans much harder to execute.

His 19 sixes came from only 88 balls faced in the 20th over.

Andre Russell – 19 Sixes

Andre Russell is level with de Villiers on 19 final-over sixes.

Russell has one of the highest overall batting strike rates in IPL history.

He usually bats late and is expected to attack immediately.

His power means even slower balls that are not perfectly executed can travel over the boundary.

Russell has faced 93 balls in the 20th over.

His total is lower than some other finishers partly because he has often done his biggest damage in the 17th, 18th and 19th overs rather than waiting until the final six balls.

MS Dhoni vs Kieron Pollard in the 20th Over

The gap between the top two is huge.

Dhoni has more than twice Pollard's final-over sixes.

Longevity is part of the reason, but his total also reflects how often CSK designed innings around keeping him available for the final overs.

Dhoni vs Jadeja in the 20th Over

Dhoni and Jadeja spent many years together at CSK, but their final-over records are very different.

Dhoni has 72 sixes, while Jadeja has 33.

Jadeja's total is still outstanding and places him joint second overall.

The difference comes mainly from their roles.

For much of their careers, CSK wanted Dhoni to remain at the crease until the final over, while Jadeja's batting position changed more often.

Hardik Pandya vs Pollard in the Final Over

Pollard and Hardik formed one of the most dangerous finishing combinations in Mumbai Indians history.

Pollard hit 33 sixes in IPL 20th overs.

Hardik has 32.

Their totals are almost identical despite Pollard facing significantly more deliveries.

Hardik's six-hitting frequency has therefore been particularly strong.

For several seasons, opposition bowlers had the difficult task of dealing with both batters during the final five overs.

Most Runs in the 20th Over in IPL History

MS Dhoni does not only lead the six-hitting list.

He also holds the record for the most runs scored in the 20th over in IPL history.

Dhoni has scored 844 runs from 347 deliveries in the final over.

No other batter has reached 500 final-over runs.

Kieron Pollard scored 405, showing how large Dhoni's advantage is.

His record is built on both longevity and extraordinary finishing consistency.

Most Sixes in One 20th Over in IPL

Some batters have produced extraordinary six-hitting in a single final over.

Ravindra Jadeja hit five sixes in the 20th over against RCB in 2021.

Rinku Singh also hit five sixes in the final over against Gujarat Titans in 2023.

The context was different.

Jadeja was batting first and trying to push CSK's total higher.

Rinku was chasing and needed almost every ball to disappear for six to win the match.

Both performances have become famous IPL moments.

Rinku Singh's Final Over vs Gujarat Titans

KKR needed 29 runs from the final over.

Umesh Yadav took a single from the first delivery, leaving Rinku with 28 required from five balls.

He then hit:

KKR won by three wickets.

It remains one of the greatest final-over chases in IPL history.

Ravindra Jadeja's 37-Run Final Over

Jadeja's assault against Harshal Patel in 2021 produced 37 runs from the 20th over.

Five sixes were part of the attack, while a no-ball increased the number of deliveries and the total runs available.

Jadeja had already been batting well, but the final over completely transformed CSK's score.

The innings became one of the clearest examples of how much difference one explosive 20th over can make.

Why the 20th Over Is So Difficult for Batters

The last over looks like a perfect time to attack because only six deliveries remain.

In reality, it is one of the most difficult phases of a T20 innings.

Teams normally save their best death bowler for the final overs.

The bowler can use yorkers, slower balls, bouncers and very wide lines.

Fielders also protect the most likely boundary areas.

The batter knows every dot ball is costly, which adds pressure to attack.

Players who repeatedly hit sixes in this phase therefore need more than power. They need strong anticipation and the ability to predict what the bowler is trying to do.

Why Finishers Dominate the List

Most names on the list are middle-order or lower-middle-order batters.

Dhoni, Pollard, Jadeja, Hardik, Miller, Stoinis, Rinku and Karthik have all spent large parts of their careers as finishers.

That role gives them regular opportunities to face the 20th over.

Top-order batters usually need to bat for 19 overs before they can reach the same situation.

That is why Rohit Sharma is unusual among the leading names.

What Makes a Great IPL Finisher?

Six-hitting is only one part of finishing.

A great finisher also needs to understand the required rate, protect weaker batting partners and know when a single is more valuable than a risky boundary attempt.

They must also read the bowler's plan quickly.

The best finishers can identify a slower ball from the hand, move early for a wide yorker and still react to a surprise short delivery.

Dhoni's record is so strong because he combined these skills with exceptional longevity.

Can Anyone Break Dhoni's Record?

Dhoni's 72 sixes give him a huge advantage over the rest of the field.

Pollard is retired, while Jadeja and Hardik are much further behind.

Younger finishers such as Rinku Singh have an opportunity, but they would need many seasons of regular final-over batting to reach 72.

Rinku's early scoring rate shows the possibility, but longevity will be the bigger challenge.

A batter would need to stay in the IPL for years while continuing to bat in a finishing role.

Who Has Hit the Most Sixes in the 20th Over in IPL History?

The direct answer is MS Dhoni.

He has hit 72 sixes in the 20th over of IPL matches, comfortably the most by any batter.

Kieron Pollard and Ravindra Jadeja are next with 33 each, followed by Hardik Pandya with 32.

Dhoni has also scored 844 final-over runs, making him the leading run-scorer in this phase as well.

His record reflects why he has long been regarded as one of the greatest finishers in IPL history.

FAQs

Who has hit the most sixes in the 20th over in IPL history?

MS Dhoni holds the record with 72 sixes in IPL 20th overs.

How many sixes has MS Dhoni hit in the 20th over?

Dhoni has hit 72 sixes from 347 balls faced in the final over.

Who is second for most sixes in the 20th over in IPL?

Kieron Pollard and Ravindra Jadeja are level with 33 sixes each.

How many 20th-over sixes has Hardik Pandya hit?

Hardik Pandya has hit 32 sixes in the 20th over.

How many final-over sixes has David Miller hit in the IPL?

David Miller has hit 25 sixes in IPL 20th overs.

How many sixes has Rinku Singh hit in IPL 20th overs?

Rinku Singh has hit 21 sixes from 79 balls in the final over.

Who hit five sixes in the final over of an IPL chase?

Rinku Singh hit five consecutive sixes against Gujarat Titans in 2023 to complete a remarkable KKR victory.

Did Ravindra Jadeja hit five sixes in a 20th over?

Yes. Jadeja hit five sixes during a 37-run final over against RCB in 2021.

Who has scored the most runs in IPL 20th overs?

MS Dhoni leads with 844 runs in the 20th over.

How many 20th-over sixes did Kieron Pollard hit?

Pollard finished his IPL career with 33 sixes in the final over.

Sources

• Times of India – Most Sixes by a Batter in the IPL 20th Over
  https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/ipl/web-stories/ipl-record-most-overall-sixes-by-a-batter-in-the-20th-over/photostory/100160277.cms