ODI World Cup is the most desirable cricket event in the world. ICC organizes the 50 over World Cup every four years and hence it makes this format of the World Cup more eloquent. From stroke players to hard hitters, every individual has over the years participated in the iconic World Cup. Batters do not only take singles but at times try to hit each and every ball in the fence. Earlier, ODI cricket was slow however, after the inception of T20 cricket the format, it emphasizes on Strike Rate. To date 12 ODI World Cups have been played across the globe. Let’s learn about the players with the most sixes in the ODI World cup.

Chris Gayle
The greatest ODI batsman of the West Indies, Chris Gayle leads the chart for hitting the most sixes in ODI World Cup. Gayle represented West Indies in 35 World Cup matches and slogged 49 sixes in the event. The batting stalwart made 1186 runs at a decent average of 35.93 in his outings. Gayle used to hit the ball so hard that the bowlers would get damaged mentally.
AB DE Villiers
Former South African great who is known as “Mr.360” for his outrageous batting, AB DE Villiers finds himself in the 2nd spot on the elite list of most sixes in the ODI World Cup. The veteran batter smashed 37 sixes in 23 games in the competition which aided his 1207 World Cup runs tally. He inflicted carnage on the bowlers whenever he wanted and emerged as the standout batsman for his team frequently.
Ricky Ponting
The 2 times World Cup-winning skipper, a nightmare for the bowlers, Ricky Ponting gets the 3rd position on the most sixes in the World Cup tally with 31 sixes. Having played in 46 matches in 5 World Cups (1996-2011), Ponting clobbered 31 sixes with 1743 runs in his name, which is 2nd most by any batsman in World Cup history. The charismatic batsman often led his team with his sensational batting and his sixes were the result of sweet timing and a bit of power.
Brendon McCullum
The 4th spot on this honorable chart of most sixes in the World Cup features Ex-Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum. The Swashbuckling batter smacked 29 sixes in 34 games in this marquee tournament. McCullum finished his ODI World Cup career with 742 runs at a stunning strike rate of 120.84. Despite having a good World Cup with the bat, McCullum failed to lift the trophy in 2015 following the miserable defeat against Australia by 7 wickets.
Herschelle Gibbs
One of the irrefutable names among the South African greats, Hershelle Gibbs whacked 28 sixes in 25 occasions, which is 5th most sixes in World Cup by a batsman. Gibbs played 4 World Cups for the Proteas in between 1999 to 2011 and accumulated 1067 runs in 25 outings at an impressive average of 56.15
List of Most Sixes in World Cup History
Player | Matches | Innings | Sixes |
C Gayle (WI) | 35 | 34 | 49 |
AB De Villiers (SA) | 23 | 22 | 37 |
R Ponting (AUS) | 46 | 42 | 31 |
B McCullum (NZ) | 34 | 27 | 29 |
H Gibbs (SA) | 25 | 23 | 28 |
S Tendulkar (IND) | 45 | 44 | 27 |
S Jayasuriya (SL) | 38 | 37 | 27 |
E Morgan (ENG) | 29 | 27 | 26 |
S Ganguly (IND) | 21 | 21 | 25 |
A Finch (AUS) | 18 | 18 | 24 |
Chris Gayle smashed the most sixes in the World Cup history, 49.
Sachin Tendulkar has hit the most sixes in the ODI World Cup (27).
Senior Cricket Content Editor at Skyblogs Cricket.
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