Who has hit the longest six in international cricket history?

The former Pakistan captain, Shahid Afridi, holds the record for the longest six of 153m during the ODI against South Africa in 2013 at the Wanderers.

Why do different websites report various distances for the same six?

There is no official system to measure the distance of a six across all eras of the game. In the past, the distances of the sixes were all estimated, while in the modern era, broadcasters take the help of technology such as Hawk-Eye.

What is the longest official six of Virat Kohli in international cricket?

Virat Kohli’s longest official recorded six in international cricket is 108 meters when he smashed the shot against Australia during a T20I in 2013.

What is the longest official six of Rohit Sharma in international cricket?

Rohit Sharma’s longest official recorded six in international cricket is 108 meters against Australia in 2013 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, during his explosive and record-breaking knock of 209 runs.

10 longest sixes in cricket — Can Afridi's 153m fall?

Watching a towering six is one of the most thrilling sights of the game. The sound of the bat, the ball soaring high into the stands, and the stunned expressions on the bowler’s face create moments that the fans remember for decades. Even though every maximum counts the same on the scoreboard, a few legendary sixes become immortal because of the unbelievable distance they traveled.

Over the years, some of the biggest hitters of the game across the three formats have launched the ball well beyond the boundary ropes. From the massive 143-meter six of New Zealand’s Corey Anderson against West Indies, or MS Dhoni's 118-meter six to Yuvraj Singh’s effortless 119-meter maximum, these shots become the rare combination of timing, power, and clean ball-striking that left the spectators in awe.

Measuring the longest sixes isn’t quite straightforward, and different broadcasters have used the tracking systems over the years. These several monster hits have got universal recognition for their unbelievable distance and continue to dominate the discussions whenever the game’s biggest sixes are debated.

Inside the list — and why Shahid Afridi's 153-metre monster still hasn't been touched

The most exciting part of the longest six-hitting list is that it doesn’t belong only to the batters with sheer power and perfect muscle but also to the bowlers, who, sometimes, get the perfect timing off his bat to hit the big sixes.

It’s noteworthy to reflect on the fact that some of the sixes may not get overtaken in terms of their distance. Here is a countdown of the most attractive hits ever being recorded that didn’t just clear the ropes but threatened to leave the stadium altogether.

Here are the top 10 longest sixes ever hit across the three formats of the game-

#10 Chris Gayle (West Indies)- 116m six vs India-

The tenth longest six of the list belongs to the Universe Boss, Chris Gayle. It wouldn’t have been fitting to have the list without a six of Gayle. During the T20 World Cup 2010 clash at the Kensington Oval in Barbados between West Indies and India, the West Indies left-handed opener smashed a dashing knock of 98 runs off 66 balls with the help of five boundaries and seven sixes.

One of those seven sixes was off 118 meters against Yusuf Pathan. Gayle used his strong build and compact swing to launch the ball deep over the long-on region without much effort, as he was renowned for his massive bat speed to generate the power.

#9 Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)- 118m six vs Australia-

It was the ODI clash between Pakistan and Australia in 2005 at the Sydney Cricket Ground when the visitors were bundled out for just 163 runs. Shahid Afridi nailed 48 runs off just 37 balls at a strike rate of around 130 with the help of three boundaries and as many sixes.

Afridi, who appears twice in the list of longest sixes, underlines his reputation with an 118-meter six against Shane Watson when the right-handed batter showcased his trademark aggressive style. He relies on his minimal back-lift, explosive bat speed, and strong wrist action.

#8 MS Dhoni (India)- 118m six vs New Zealand-

Even though the third ODI between New Zealand and India at the AMI Stadium in Christchurch in 2009 was all around the 163-run knock from Sachin Tendulkar off just 133 balls at a strike rate of 122.56 with 16 boundaries and five sixes, MS Dhoni powered a massive 118-meter six during his 68-run knock off 58 balls.

The former Indian captain faced Daniel Vettori and appeared to be glancing it away with clean contact while still timing the ball perfectly over the long-on region. He used to generate sheer power with his lower-body rotation and explosive wrist work as the shot reflected his calm mindset and skill to dominate the pressure.

#7 Yuvraj Singh (India)- 119m six vs Australia-

It was the second semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2007 between India and Australia at Kingsmead in Durban, where the blue brigade batted first and posted a massive score of 188 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

After his strong performance against England, Yuvraj Singh again stole the limelight with the help of 70 runs off 30 balls at a strike rate of 233.33, thanks to five boundaries and as many sixes. Out of his five sixes, one was 119 meters.

Facing Brett Lee, he leaned into the shot confidently and sent the ball soaring over the deep mid-wicket. His combined ability of balance, power, and aggressive intent against extreme pace brought the success.

#6 Mark Waugh (Australia)- 120m six vs New Zealand-

It was the 1997 Test match between Australia and New Zealand at the WACA when the visiting side posted a below-par score of 217 runs. In reply, the hosts gained a massive lead of nearly 250 runs thanks to three 85+ run knocks from Steve and Mark Waugh and Ian Healy.

However, the most exciting part of Mark’s 86-run knock, decorated with 11 boundaries and one six, was that he nailed a 120-meter six against Daniel Vettori. He executed the beautiful pull shot sweetly against the left-arm spinner, taking full advantage of WACA’s bouncy surface. The broadcasters later verified the actual distance of the six.

#5 Corey Anderson (New Zealand)- 122m six vs India-

It was the first ODI of the five-match series between New Zealand and India at the McLean Park in Napier, where the hosts batted first and posted a huge score of 292 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Corey Anderson played a sensational knock of unbeaten 68 runs off just 40 balls with the help of three boundaries and four sixes.

Out of those four over boundaries, he cleared his front leg aggressively and stuck through the line with exceptional bat speed against Mohammed Shami. Anderson got the short perfectly from the middle of his bat and stood up on his sheer reputation of being a big-six hitter.

#4 Liam Livingstone (England)- 122m six vs Pakistan-

During the first T20I at Trent Bridge beteen England and Pakistan in 2021, Liam Livingstone smashed a thrilling knock of 103 runs off just 43 balls at a strike rate of 239.53 with the help of six boundaries and nine sixes. It wasn’t enough, though, to save them from the 233-run chase. But the all-rounder was in a different mood.

Livingstone used his strong frame and leverage to smash Haris Rauf’s delivery far beyond the boundary over the long-on region. The Hawk-Eye confirmed the accuracy of the six’s distance. His performance reflected the growing importance of specialized power-hitters in the shortest format, where boundary hitting has become a tactical advantage.

#3 Martin Guptill (New Zealand)- 127m six vs South Africa-

The former New Zealand opening batter, Martin Guptill, finds himself at the third position of the record book with the 127-meter six during the 2012 T20I against South Africa in Wellington. The right-handed batter remained unbeaten on 78 runs off 55 balls at a strike rate of 141.82, with the help of five boundaries and four sixes.

Out of his four sixes, one of them came against Lonwabo Tsotsobe, when the veteran timed the pull shot perfectly, putting the ball soaring high into the night sky before it crashed into the stadium roof. The clean connection and massive distance turned the shot into a viral highlight among the fans.

The Sky Stadium in Wellington is made of compact dimensions, as the measured distance reflected the genuine power and timing. Guptill smashed the six using his top-hand control and weight transfer, as the roof impact provided visual proof of the shot.

#2 Brett Lee (Australia)- 143m six vs West Indies-

It was the opening Test of the three-match series between Australia and West Indies in 2005 at the Gabba, in Brisbane. The hosts batted first and posted a strong score of 435 runs, thanks to the 149-run knock from their captain, Ricky Ponting. However, it was Brett Lee who gathered the praise for his massive six.

Primarily renowned as one of the fastest bowlers in cricket history, Lee stunned fans by smashing a 143-meter six over the deep square leg against Darren Powell. The shot made the long boundaries of the Gabba look smaller. It had some crazy power rather than only assistance from the smaller dimensions.

The 143m six still stands as the longest recorded six by a specialist bowler in the history of international cricket, as it remains a rare moment of explosive hitting in the longest format.

#1 Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)- 153m six vs South Africa-

It was the third ODI between South Africa and Pakistan from the 2013 series at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The Proteas batted first and posted a massive score of 343 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 50 overs, with Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, both of whom celebrated their centuries, recording a 238-run third-wicket stand.

However, the most engaging prospect of the encounter was Shahid Afridi’s 153-meter six. Facing Ryan McLaren, he launched the ball over the long-on region with immense force as the venue’s high altitude significantly reduced air resistance, helping the ball travel further than usual.

The ball cleared the stands before landing near the stadium parking area, as the moment became one of the game’s most iconic power-hitting displays.