Few sights in cricket stir the heart like a mammoth six disappearing over the stands. The Indian Premier League (IPL) has elevated this thrill to an art form thanks to smaller grounds, modern bat technology and fearless power hitters. Fans don’t just want runs; they crave distance.
A six well over 100 metres instantly becomes a talking point on social media and a barometer of a player’s power‑hitting prowess. With every edition from 2008 to 2025 producing new monster hits, this article ranks the longest six in IPL history and explores where and how these giant blows were struck.
It also examines the science of six‑hitting, the influence of bat technology, stadium conditions and whether the record might fall in the future.
Which Is the Longest Six in IPL History? Full Record Details
According to widely circulated IPL statistics, South African all‑rounder Albie Morkel holds the record for the longest six in IPL history. Playing for Chennai Super Kings against Deccan Chargers during the inaugural 2008 season, he reportedly launched left‑arm spinner Pragyan Ojha over London for 125 metres.
Cricket experts and former players have also weighed in on the phenomenon of mammoth sixes and shrinking boundaries. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, serving as interim BCCI president in 2014, argued that boundaries in the IPL should be pushed back so that a six truly rewards exceptional power.
Speaking to iplt20.com, he said that longer boundaries “could mean the difference between a lot of those marginal sixes and a wicket for the bowler” and added: “From the bowlers’ point of view, I’d like to see the boundaries being a bit longer… I still feel that the boundaries are being moved in a lot more than they should.”
Through his remarks, Gavaskar brings to the fore the fact that towering sixes have become more frequent because modern bats and small grounds are more conducting and the fact that there are some cricketing elders who believe that bat and ball should be re-balanced.
The other side of the explanation is by Ben Cutting who struck a 117 -metre six in the 2016 final of IPL. In a 2025 ESPNcricinfo interview, Cutting remembered that he thought the ball was going to fly since the pitch at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium was true and that the boundary was so small that an untimed shot would go.
He noted that Shane Watson’s pace “was going to suit my game to a tee” and that the wicket resembled fast Australian pitches. Cutting’s remarks underscore how favourable conditions and bat speed can produce record‑breaking distances.
The record has stood for over 17 years, and only a handful of other players have come close. The next-biggest confirmed six came from Praveen Kumar, a medium‑pace bowler who surprised everyone by smashing a 124‑metre six in 2011 (reportedly off Lasith Malinga).
As with Morkel’s shot, the distance is unverified but remains the second‑longest in IPL folklore. For the first officially verified monster, we turn to Adam Gilchrist’s 2011 blitz for Kings XI Punjab.
The New Indian Express match report notes that Gilchrist hit Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Charl Langeveldt for three sixes, “including the biggest six of the tournament – 122 metres”. With credible reporting, this 122‑metre blow is the longest distance recorded by a mainstream news outlet.
The record books also highlight Ben Cutting’s monstrous six in the 2016 final. Hindustan Times reported that bats with thicker edges have increased six distances and cited Cutting’s shot as proof, noting that he smashed Shane Watson for a 117‑metre six in the final.
Top 10 Longest Sixes in IPL (2008–2025) – Complete Distance List
The table below summarises the ten biggest hits in IPL history (2008‑2025) as widely reported:
| Rank | Player | Dist (m) | Team | Opponent | Year |
| 1 | Albie Morkel | 125* | CSK | DC | 2008 |
| 2 | Praveen Kumar | 124* | RCB | MI | 2011 |
| 3 | Adam Gilchrist | 122 | KXIP | RCB | 2011 |
| 4 | Robin Uthappa | 120* | RCB | MI | 2010 |
| 5 | Chris Gayle | 119* | RCB | PWI | 2013 |
| 6 | Ross Taylor | 119* | RCB | CSK | 2008 |
| 7 | Yuvraj Singh | 119* | KXIP | CSK | 2009 |
| 8 | Ben Cutting | 117 | SRH | RCB | 2016 |
| 9 | Liam Livingstone | 117 | PBKS | GT | 2022 |
| 10 | Gautam Gambhir | 117* | KKR | RR | 2013 |
- Albie Morkel (125 m)
On 6 May 2008 at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, Morkel lifted Pragyan Ojha’s delivery over the straight boundary. Chepauk’s straight boundary is roughly 74 m and the shortest boundary about 65 m. Though the 125 m distance is unverified, the shot remains one of the most talked‑about in IPL history.
- Praveen Kumar (124 m)
During an early‑season match at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, medium‑pacer Praveen Kumar stunned the crowd by flicking a Lasith Malinga yorker for a huge six. Wankhede’s square boundaries measure roughly 64–68 m and straight boundaries 68–72 m. The hit is reported to have covered 124 m, although no official measurement exists.
- Adam Gilchrist (122 m)
On 17 May 2011, at the high‑altitude HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, Gilchrist launched Charl Langeveldt for three consecutive sixes. The final one, recorded by mainstream media as 122 m, took advantage of the thin air and square boundaries of about 64 m. This verified blow remains one of the biggest in IPL history.
- Robin Uthappa (120 m)
Playing at Wankhede Stadium in the 2010 season, Uthappa charged down the track to Dwayne Bravo and sent the ball soaring out of the ground. The stadium’s compact dimensions (around 64–72 m) amplify big hits. Commentators estimated the shot at 120 m, though it remains unconfirmed.
- Chris Gayle (119 m)
During his record‑breaking 175* on 23 April 2013 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Gayle launched left‑arm spinner Ali Murtaza into the roof. Chinnaswamy’s boundaries are among the smallest in India (~65 m), yet the ball is believed to have travelled 119 m.
- Ross Taylor (119 m)
On 28 April 2008 at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Taylor seized upon a delivery from his countryman Jacob Oram and deposited it into the upper tier. The ground’s 65 m boundaries amplify striking power; this hit is estimated at 119 m.
- Yuvraj Singh (119 m)
With the IPL temporarily hosted in South Africa, Yuvraj is said to have dispatched Albie Morkel over deep mid‑wicket at SuperSport Park, Centurion. The stadium’s boundaries range from 60 m to 74 m, and reports place the distance at 119 m, though official verification is lacking.
- Ben Cutting (117 m)
In the 2016 IPL final on 29 May 2016 at Chinnaswamy Stadium, Cutting’s cameo produced a colossal pull shot off Shane Watson. With boundaries around 65 m, the ball cleared the roof and was measured at 117 m.
- Liam Livingstone (117 m)
On 4 May 2022 at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, Livingstone hammered Mohammed Shami back over his head for a 117 m six. The venue’s boundaries run between 60 and 70 m, making the hit even more eye‑catching.
- Gautam Gambhir (117 m)
During a league match on 8 April 2013 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, Gambhir lofted S. Sreesanth high into the stands. Jaipur’s square boundaries are about 72 m, with straight and mid‑wicket boundaries exceeding 75 m, yet the ball still travelled an estimated 117 m..
Longest Sixes by Indian Players in IPL History
India has delivered some power-bombers. The longest recorded 124 metre hit by Praveen Kumar is the biggest hit by an Indian, but it is unattested.
Robin Uthappa’s reported 120‑metre six against Dwayne Bravo in 2010 showcased his pure hitting ability and remains part of IPL lore. Yuvraj Singh, famous for six sixes in an over in international cricket, reportedly flicked Albie Morkel for a 119‑metre six in 2009.
Gautam Gambhir’s towering strike in 2013 is also said to have travelled 117 metres. While these distances are not officially authenticated, they underline how Indian batters have matched overseas counterparts in power hitting.
Ravindra Jadeja has shown in recent seasons that the Indians can still smash the ball far. In IPL 2025, he advertised himself up the queue and hit a 109-metre six off the former CSK colleague Lungi Ngidi at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The ball covered a distance of 109 metres, surpassing the previous 107 metres of Heinrich Klaasen and indicating that Jadeja had a better bat speed. Chennai Super Kings lost the match, though the shot Jadeja made is the largest of the 2025 season.
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Longest Sixes by Overseas Players in IPL
The foreign stars have occupied the top of the list. The record 125m blow of Albie Morkel and the verified 122m monster of Adam Gilchrist show the effects of the South African and the Australian power strike.
Chris Gayle, the “Universe Boss,” smashed a reported 119‑m six during his world‑record 175* against Pune Warriors India in 2013. Gayle regularly clears 100 m boundaries thanks to his massive arc and towering stature.
In more recent times, Englishman Liam Livingstone sent Mohammed Shami into orbit with a verified 117‑m six for Punjab Kings in 2022.
Stadiums Where the Biggest Sixes Were Hit in IPL
The venues hosting these monster hits share certain traits:
- M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru – Often called a batting paradise, this ground has short square boundaries. An Economic Times pitch report notes that Chinnaswamy is historically known for high scores, but recent games have seen totals below 200.
- HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala – This scenic town is situated in the Himalayas more than 1,400 metres above the ground level, giving the ball an opportunity to travel farther due to the thin air. The 2025 match between Punjab Kings and LSG observed that the boundary at the Dharamsala was merely a miscue short and that Punjab struck 16 sixes on their way to 236/5, and this brings us to the high altitude and small boundaries and the way they contribute to power hitting.
- Other grounds – The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata and DY Patil in Navi Mumbai have reputations of having lively pitches and fast outfields. Matches at these venues regularly feature sixes over 100 m, as evidenced by Chris Gayle’s and Robin Uthappa’s huge hits.
Bowlers Who Were Hit for the Longest Sixes in IPL
Big hits are often a bowler’s nightmare. Pragyan Ojha, Lasith Malinga and Charl Langeveldt found themselves on the wrong end of the longest sixes. Langeveldt conceded three sixes in an over, including the 122‑m monster from Gilchrist.
Shane Watson’s full toss in the 2016 final allowed Ben Cutting to clear the roof for 117 m. Mohammed Shami (2012) and Lungi Ngidi (2025) similarly delivered length balls that Liam Livingstone and Ravindra Jadeja dispatched over 110 m.
Fast bowlers and medium pacers are not the only victims; Dwayne Bravo (Uthappa’s 120 m) and Albie Morkel (Yuvraj’s 119 m) were both medium‑fast seamers.
Do Bat Weight and Strength Affect Longest Sixes in IPL?
Modern bats have radically altered six‑hitting. Batsmen press manufacturers to make bats with thicker edges and larger sweet spots.
In the pre-IPL, bat edges were 32- 35 mm, and as T20 cricket increased the pressure, it required players to demand 40- 45 mm edges. These fatter profiles form a larger sweet spot and bigger rebound energy, enabling the shots to travel more distance even when they are mis-timed.
Bat makers emphasise lighter weight with more meat at the back to cater to players’ needs. The same report cites Ben Cutting’s 117‑m six as an example of how improved bats disturb the balance between bat and ball.
Nevertheless, strength and timing are also vital factors; despite using modern bats, the players must possess bat speed and body power to get over the boundary of 100 m.
Longest Sixes in IPL Playoffs and Finals
High‑pressure games amplify the impact of big hits. Ben Cutting’s 117‑m six came in the 2016 final and changed the momentum of the match.
ABP News reports that Sunrisers Hyderabad were nearly hemorrhaging to less than 190 when Cutting came in on a cameo (39 off 15) with four sixes, one a 117m blow that flew off the roof. Sunrisers completed on 208/7 and went ahead to lift the trophy.
Other notable playoff sixes include MS Dhoni’s 112 m hit in the 2011 Qualifier against Royal Challengers Bangalore (not in the top‑ten list) and Yuvraj Singh’s 105 m strike in the 2011 Eliminator.
Can the Longest Six Record in IPL Be Broken in Future Seasons?
Given bat technology improvements, strength conditioning and flatter pitches, the IPL’s longest‑six record is likely to be challenged. Players like Heinrich Klaasen, Andre Russell, Travis Head, Phil Salt and Abhishek Sharma have already crossed the 105‑m mark in IPL 2025.
Wisden’s updated list of the biggest sixes shows Jadeja’s 109‑m six topping the 2025 season, followed by Klaasen’s 107 m and Russell’s 106 m. As teams experiment with the impact‑player rule, finishers have the licence to swing hard from ball one.
A combination of high‑altitude venues like Dharamsala, small boundaries at Chinnaswamy and evolving bat design and sometimes the super over, makes the prospect of a 125 m or even 130 m six plausible. However, official verification will be crucial for future records.
Why Longest Sixes Are the Soul of IPL Entertainment?
Towering sixes encapsulate the IPL’s blend of athleticism and spectacle. For fans, a ball disappearing into the night sky is a moment of pure theatre.
To broadcasters and sponsors, these hits encourage interaction and feature reels. Other than the entertainment aspect of long sixes, they also represent the changing science of batting, i.e., the thicker bats and sophisticated training methods, as well as data-intensive strategies.
While cricket purists may lament the dominance of batsmen, the fascination with gigantic strikes shows no sign of waning. As the IPL continues to grow, expect future seasons to feature even longer sixes and new names atop the record list.
FAQs
1. Who hit the longest six in IPL history?
The longest six is reportedly Albie Morkel’s 125‑metre strike off Pragyan Ojha in the 2008 season. No official measurement exists, so it is considered a folklore record. The longest verified six recorded by a mainstream news outlet is Adam Gilchrist’s 122‑m six against Charl Langeveldt in 2011.
2. What is the longest six by an Indian player in the IPL?
Praveen Kumar is known to have hit a 124 meter six in 2011. However, the distance is however not verified. The biggest official hit recorded in the list of hits is a 109-m six by Ravindra Jadeja off Lungi Ngidi in IPL 2025, which is the largest confirmed six by an Indian.
3. Which overseas player has the biggest verified six?
The longest documented six in the history of IPL was hit by Australian legend Adam Gilchrist in 2011 against Charl Langeveldt, and it is 122 metres (122 m) in length. The next longest hits are 117m six by Ben Cutting (2016) and 117m blast by Liam Livingston (2022).
4. Which stadium has produced the most monster sixes?
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is known due to its small boundaries and conducive pitch to the bat. History is that the ground is a batting paradise and small boundaries are normally favourable to big-hitters. A good deal of the longest sixes here, such as the 117 m of Cutting and the 109 m of Jadeja, were struck.
5. How do bat technology and player strength affect six distances?
IPL has encouraged players to use a bat with 40-45 mm edges, whilst it was 32-35mm prior to the T20 boom. The bigger sweet spots and thinner edges give an additional rebound, which is useful in assisting moderately timed shots to travel bigger distances. In spite of this, correct technique and bat speed are both necessary to clear 100m boundaries.
