Chris Gayle owns the powerplay in IPL history like no other batter. The West Indies giant cleared the ropes 138 times in the first six overs of IPL matches across his career. That is the highest total for any player, and it has stood untouched for years. David Warner is next with 105 powerplay sixes, which is still 33 behind Gayle.
The powerplay covers overs 1 to 6 of an innings. During these overs only two fielders are allowed outside the 30 yard circle, so teams load their top order with hitters who can attack from the first ball. Openers dominate this list because they face most of their deliveries inside the powerplay. Almost every name in the top ten is a top order batter.
The numbers have grown fast in recent seasons. In 2026, 15 year old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hit 46 sixes in the powerplay in a single season, the most ever in one edition. His rise shows how a new generation of fearless openers is changing what the first six overs can produce.
Most Powerplay Sixes in IPL Overview
| Record | Holder | Number | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Most powerplay sixes in IPL career | Chris Gayle | 138 | 135 innings, 2009 to 2021 |
| Second most powerplay sixes | David Warner | 105 | 174 innings, 2009 to 2024 |
| Most powerplay sixes in one season | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 46 | RR, 2026, from 223 balls |
| Most powerplay sixes in one innings | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 8 | vs SRH, Eliminator, 2026 |
Top 10 Most Powerplay Sixes in IPL
| Rank | Player | Powerplay Sixes | Innings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | 138 | 135 |
| 2 | David Warner | 105 | 174 |
| 3 | Rohit Sharma | 90 | 161 |
| 4 | Quinton de Kock | 75 | 103 |
| 5 | Shikhar Dhawan | 74 | 213 |
| 6 | KL Rahul | 72 | 102 |
| 7 | Brendon McCullum | 70 | 104 |
| 8 | Faf du Plessis | 67 | 114 |
| 9 | Jos Buttler | 61 | 82 |
| 10 | Suresh Raina | 54 | 133 |
The career totals in this table are the last widely reported set, published in April 2024. Gayle and Warner have not played IPL since those numbers were recorded, so their totals stand. Active batters have added a few sixes since then, and fully updated career totals are not officially confirmed in one place.
Gayle stands far above the rest. His 138 powerplay sixes came at a time when teams were more cautious in the first six overs. Warner reached 105 through long service as an opener for Delhi and Hyderabad. Rohit Sharma is the top Indian on this list and keeps climbing, while Quinton de Kock has one of the best ratios, with 75 sixes in just 103 innings.
Record History Season by Season
Powerplay six hitting has changed a lot over the years. In the early seasons, openers used the first six overs to settle in and score at a run a ball. Sanath Jayasuriya showed in the very first edition in 2008 that the powerplay could be attacked, and his 22 powerplay sixes that year stood as the single season mark for many seasons.
Chris Gayle took that idea much further. He attacked from ball one in every season he played and built a career total of 138 that nobody has matched. His numbers looked untouchable for more than a decade.
Then came the modern era of fearless powerplay hitting. Abhishek Sharma hit 29 powerplay sixes in 2024, passing Jayasuriya’s old season mark. In 2026 he hit 27 more. But the biggest change came from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The teenager hit 46 sixes in the powerplay in the 2026 season from only 223 balls, more powerplay sixes than entire teams managed in one edition. He also hit eight sixes in the powerplay in the 2026 Eliminator against SRH, the most by any batter in the first six overs of an IPL innings. Only five batters had ever managed seven before him. Rajasthan Royals hit 60 powerplay sixes as a team in 2026, the most by any side in one edition.
| Season | Player | Powerplay Sixes | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Sanath Jayasuriya | 22 | MI |
| 2024 | Abhishek Sharma | 29 | SRH |
| 2024 | Travis Head | 22 | SRH |
| 2025 | Yashasvi Jaiswal | 22 | RR |
| 2026 | Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | 46 | RR |
| 2026 | Abhishek Sharma | 27 | SRH |
What This Record Tells Us
The powerplay sets the tone for an innings. Teams that clear the ropes in the first six overs build big totals because the ball is new and hard, the field is up, and the best batting conditions are on offer. Gayle understood this before everyone else. His 138 powerplay sixes came from pure confidence against the new ball, and his record has survived even though the game has become much faster.
The modern shift is just as clear. Until 2023 no IPL team had hit as many powerplay sixes in a season as Sooryavanshi hit on his own in 2026. In 2026 he out hit five whole teams in this phase, including CSK, RCB, KKR, GT and DC. That is not normal batting. It shows how the impact player rule and younger, bolder openers have turned the powerplay into the most aggressive phase of an innings.
Openers will always lead this list. They face the most balls in overs 1 to 6. Middle order stars like Dhoni and Pollard hit most of their sixes after the powerplay, which is why they do not appear here. The record also rewards longevity. Warner needed 174 innings to reach 105, while de Kock reached 75 in just 103. Efficiency and career length both matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has hit the most sixes in the powerplay in IPL history?
Chris Gayle. He hit 138 sixes in the first six overs across his IPL career, the highest total for any batter.
What is the powerplay in IPL?
The powerplay is the first six overs of an innings. During these overs only two fielders are allowed outside the 30 yard circle, which is why batters attack more freely.
Who has the most powerplay sixes in a single IPL season?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He hit 46 sixes in the powerplay in the 2026 season for Rajasthan Royals, passing Abhishek Sharma’s 29 in 2024.
Who hit the most sixes in the powerplay in one IPL innings?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He hit eight sixes in the first six overs of the 2026 Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Only five batters had ever managed seven in an innings before him.
Which team has hit the most powerplay sixes in one IPL season?
Rajasthan Royals. They hit 60 powerplay sixes in the 2026 edition, the most by any team in a single season.
How many powerplay sixes did David Warner hit?
105 in 174 innings. He is the only batter besides Chris Gayle to cross 100 powerplay sixes in IPL history.
Why do openers lead this list?
Openers face the most balls in the first six overs. Middle order finishers like MS Dhoni hit most of their sixes in the death overs instead, so they do not rank high here. Read more about highest career batting strike rates in the powerplay in IPL.
Has any Indian batter crossed 100 powerplay sixes?
Not yet in the confirmed career totals. Rohit Sharma leads the Indian batters with 90, and the rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is climbing fast. You can also see how teenagers have changed powerplay scoring in IPL.
The six hitting craze is also tracked by single innings feats. See the most runs by a batter in the powerplay in an IPL match and the highest individual scores by openers in our library.
Statistics updated through: 23 October 2026
