Published on March 31st, 2023
Albie Morkel’s six has become one of the most iconic moments in IPL history. His towering hit left the crowd and commentators in awe, showcasing the power and skill of the South African all-rounder.
The ability to strike the ball with such ferocity and accuracy is a key component of the modern-day T20 game, and Morkel’s record-breaking hit epitomizes this style of play.
It’s a moment that will live long in the memory of IPL fans and is a testament to the incredible talent on display in the tournament.
In today’s cricket, it’s essential for batsmen to be able to take on the opposition’s attack. Hitting the ball into the stands not only excites the crowd, but it also boosts the confidence of the batsman.
Unveiling The Longest Six in IPL History
In IPL 2008, Albie Morkel smashed a massive six of 125 meters while playing for Chennai Super Kings against Deccan Chargers, which still holds the record for the longest six in IPL even after 15 seasons. Morkel hit the left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha for the mammoth six.
Former Indian fast bowler Praveen Kumar hit the second-longest six in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history, surprisingly ahead of big-hitters like Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers.
In a match between Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2013 edition of IPL, Kumar smashed Lasith Malinga, one of the best bowlers in the tournament’s history, for a massive six over long-off.
Longest Six In IPL History
Position | Year | Player | Team | Distance (in meters) |
1 | 2008 | Albie Morkel | Chennai Super Kings | 125 |
2 | 2013 | Praveen Kumar | Kings XI Punjab | 124 |
3 | 2011 | Adam Gilchrist | Kings XI Punjab | 122 |
4 | 2010 | Robin Uthappa | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 120 |
5 | 2013 | Chris Gayle | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 119 |
6 | 2009 | Yuvraj Singh | Kings XI Punjab | 119 |
7 | 2008 | Ross Taylor | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 119 |
8 | 2013 | Gautam Gambhir | Kolkata Knight Riders | 117 |
9 | 2016 | Ben Cutting | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 117 |
10 | 2022 | Liam Livingstone | Punjab Kings | 117 |
The ball traveled a distance of 125 meters, matching Albie Morkel’s record for the longest six in IPL history. Kumar’s six is a testament to his power-hitting abilities, which often went unnoticed as he was primarily known for his swing bowling skills.
Chris Gayle, also known as the Universe Boss, is a West Indian cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest T20 batsmen of all time.
In the IPL, he has played for several teams, including the Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Kings XI Punjab. He has been known for his aggressive style of batting and has scored many runs for his teams in the tournament.
Gayle’s record of hitting the most number of sixes in the IPL is a testament to his destructive ability with the bat. He has hit a total of 357 sixes in 141 innings, which is far ahead of the second-placed AB de Villiers, who has hit 240 sixes in 169 innings.
One of the most memorable sixes hit by Gayle in the IPL was during his incredible knock of 175* against the Pune Warriors India in IPL 2013.
Biggest Six In IPL Year Wise
Year | Player Name | Team | Distance (in meters) |
2022 | Liam Livingstone | Punjab Kings | 117 |
2021 | Ruturaj Gaikwad | Chennai Super Kings | 108 |
2020 | Nicholas Pooran | Kings XI Punjab | 106 |
2019 | MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings | 111 |
2018 | AB de Villiers | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 111 |
2017 | Travis Head | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 109 |
2016 | Ben Cutting | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 117 |
2015 | AB de Villiers | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 108 |
2014 | David Miller | Kings XI Punjab | 102 |
2013 | Praveen Kumar | Kings XI Punjab | 124 |
2012 | MS Dhoni | Chennai Super Kings | 112 |
2011 | Adam Gilchrist | Kings XI Punjab | 122 |
2010 | Robin Uthappa | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 120 |
2009 | Yuvraj Singh | Kings XI Punjab | 119 |
2008 | Albie Morkel | Chennai Super Kings | 125 |
In that match, Gayle smashed 17 sixes and 13 fours to help his team post a mammoth total of 263/5 in 20 overs, which remains the highest team total in the IPL.
Among those 17 sixes, the longest one was against Pune Warriors India’s pacer Ashok Dinda, which was hit for a whopping 119 meters. The ball landed outside the stadium, and it was an incredible display of power hitting from Gayle.
While this six is not the longest in the IPL, it still remains one of the most iconic ones in the tournament’s history due to its sheer magnitude and the context in which it was hit.
Despite having hit the longest six of his IPL career at 119 meters, Chris Gayle‘s feat stands at fifth on the list of longest sixes in IPL. Other players like Yuvraj Singh and Ross Taylor have also managed to match the 119-meter distance at some point during the tournament.
Gautam Gambhir, known for his ability to find the gaps rather than playing aerial shots, may come as a surprise to many as he features in the top 10 longest sixes of IPL of all-time.
In an unexpected move, Gautam Gambhir took on Rajasthan Royals’ pacer S Sreesanth during a chase in 2013, stepping out of his crease and bending his back foot slightly to hit a maximum over deep square leg.