Designed to be a stage that produces big hits, IPL 9 has seen the usual barrage of sixes. The 43 matches till Friday saw 427 hits for the maximum, an average of 9.9 per match. Express takes a look at batsmen to have hit most of those.
AB de Villiers
(Royal Challengers Bangalore)
M 10, BF 261, 6x17, SR 156.70
His team isn’t doing well despite some top batting performances. He has played his part with some characteristic hits all around the wicket. When he gets going, the entire ground becomes his favourite area.
KL Rahul
(Royal Challengers Bangalore)
M 8, BF 232, 6x15, SR 143.10
Not many expected him to feature on this list. But the Karnataka youngster has added that dimension to his game which helps him unfurl big hits at regular intervals. Timing more than force is his plus point.
Kieron Pollard
(Mumbai Indians)
M 11, BF 127, 6x15, SR 153.53
The Caribbean with his natural ability to clear the ropes can always be counted upon to break the shackles with big hits. But the best part about him is he mostly hits it in the ‘V’ and long and hard.
Virat Kohli
(Royal Challengers Bangalore)
M 10, BF 402, 6x17, SR 141.29
The Orange Cap holder is having a phenomenal tournament as an incredible average of 71.00 testifies. From extra-cover to mid-wicket, his arc for big hits is wide and they go a long way.
David Warner
(Sunrisers Hyderabad)
M 11, BF 323, 6x22, SR 159.44
The captain of the table toppers attacks from the first ball and collects a fair share of runs through lofted shots. Between long-on and long-off, square of the wicket and over mid-wicket — his range is wide as bowlers must have figured by now.
Most sixes in an innings
8 off 32 balls (82*) by Chris Morris of Gujarat against Delhi.