Aakash Chopra Picks His Top 6 ‘Six-Hitters’ Of Modern Day Cricket: Six-hitting is no more privilege but a certain requirement for each batter to survive in the modern era. In the limited-overs format, batters usually rely on their ability to hit sixes in a fast-paced game. Six-hitting has become a trend, especially in the shorter versions of the game. Players often practice special training sessions to get better at their six-hitting prowess at the highest level.
In the modern game where every other player is bound to hit such glory shots, some of them make it look really easy. Renowned cricket commentator Aakash Chopra recently attempted to rank the best six players based upon their six-hitting prowess in the world cricket. Chopra, who has a keen eye for details, is highly rated for his analysis of the game.
Here’s a look at 6 best six-hitters in world cricket:
6. AB de Villiers
Known as Mr.360, AB de Villiers retired from international cricket in 2018. But not before he ruled the shorter versions of the game as one of the world’s best batsman for several years. De Villiers, who was immensely versatile in playing according to the situation, had a great liking for hitting sixes. He was one of those batsmen who could hit similar deliver to different parts of the ground. With his innovative style of play, De Villiers bags the No.6 six position in Aakash’s rankings.
5. MS Dhoni
Former India captain, MS Dhoni burst onto the scene was marked by an image of a dasher who could tonk the ball hard and long. One of the best finishers in world cricket. Dhoni too relied on his six-hitting ability to muster the majority of his runs. In a career that saw many various high points, it was the ability to muster quick runs that saw him earn a name for himself as the world stage. In his career, Dhoni has smashed 568 sixes including 359 maximums for India across formats.
4. Yuvraj Singh
On No.4, Yuvraj Singh takes the spot as one of the best all-rounders that India has ever seen in ODI cricket. There’s no other name that drew most resemblance with sixes than Yuvraj after his six 6s in an over against Broad in T20 World Cup 2007. Yuvraj has always had the knack of scoring glory shots. He always preferred to attack the spinners in his playing career. Till date, Yuvraj holds the records for the fastest T20I fifty off just 12 balls vs England at Durban in 2007. In his career, the Punjab-lad has managed to smash 251 sixes for India.
3. Andre Russell
One of the T20 specialists of the modern era, Andre Russell can often send shivers down the spine of opposition skipper. At times, it is nearly impossible to bowl at him when he’s on-song. While most batsmen rely on timing, Russell prepares to muscle the ball hard and long whenever he hits a six. However, he’s deadly effective in his approach that has allowed him to succeed at all levels of cricket. In his playing career so far, Russell has 219 sixes to his name.
2. Rohit Sharma
One of the most pleasing sights in world cricket in modern times, Rohit Sharma makes six-hitting an effortless job. His ability to just guide the ball and fetch six runs makes him highly successful in white-ball cricket. In the past three years, Rohit has hit most sixes in world cricket. He relies on timing the ball rather than putting power behind his shots. It is his innate ability that he’s in control while playing the aerial shots. In his career so far, the Mumbaikar has hit 617 sixes – the most for any Indian batter.
1. Chris Gayle
The undisputed king of six-hitting, Chris Gayle has mastered this art ever since he began playing for the West Indies. Known as the ‘Universe Boss’, hitting sixes has been a crucial aspect of his success in the limited-overs format, especially in T20s. With most sixes in world cricket, Gayle has registered a number of records by the virtue of his six-hitting ability. He grabs the No.1 spot in Chopra’s ranking for best six-hitting batsmen in world cricket.
