Cricket has changed since T20 cricket was introduced. Now, fans are seeing the effects of T20 cricket in other formats of the game. That is why big scores are being made and chased in ODIs as well. Well, the ODI World Cup is the biggest platform for a player to perform in his or her career.
Some players take this opportunity and leave an impactful performance that is remembered forever. Just like Chris Gayle, who is known for hitting big sixes. He holds the record for most sixes in both the T20 World Cup and the ODI World Cup as well. And here, we will talk about the batters with the most sixes in ODI World Cup history.
Most sixes in ODI World Cup History
| Batter | Span | Mts | Runs | HS | 50/100 | 6s | 4s |
| Chris Gayle (WI) | 2003-2019 | 35 | 1186 | 215 | 6/2 | 49 | 116 |
| AB de Villiers (SA) | 2007-2015 | 23 | 1207 | 162* | 6/4 | 37 | 121 |
| Ricky Ponting (AUS) | 1996-2011 | 46 | 1743 | 140* | 6/5 | 31 | 145 |
| Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 2003-2015 | 34 | 742 | 101 | 6/1 | 29 | 77 |
| Herschelle Gibbs (SA) | 1999-2007 | 25 | 1067 | 143 | 8/2 | 28 | 106 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 1992-2007 | 38 | 1165 | 120 | 6/3 | 27 | 120 |
| Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 1992-2011 | 45 | 2278 | 152 | 15/6 | 27 | 241 |
| Eoin Morgan (ENG) | 2007-2019 | 29 | 672 | 148 | 3/1 | 26 | 56 |
| Sourav Ganguly (IND) | 1999-2007 | 21 | 1006 | 183 | 3/4 | 25 | 79 |
| Aaron Finch (AUS) | 2015-2019 | 18 | 787 | 153 | 4/3 | 24 | 73 |
5. Herschelle Gibbs (SA) – 28 sixes in 25 games
Former South African opener Herschelle Gibbs is in fifth place. Gibbs played a number of brilliant knocks in World Cup history. Though South Africa hasn’t won any titles, he has been one of the most consistent batters. Gibbs hit 28 sixes in 23 innings and scored 1067 runs, with two centuries and eight half-centuries.
4. Brendon McCullum (NZ) – 29 sixes in 34 games
Brendon McCullum was one of the most attacking batters in World Cup history. He holds the record for the top two fastest fifty in the World Cup event. McCullum played 27 innings and scored 742 runs at a strike rate of 120.84, with one century and six half-centuries. He also smashed 29 sixes and 77 boundaries.
3. Ricky Ponting (AUS) – 31 sixes in 46 games
Ricky Ponting led Australia to 2003 and 2007 World Cup wins. He was also a consistent performer for his team and loved to take on the bowling. Ponting scored the second most runs in the World Cup event. He played 46 games and scored 1743 runs at 45.86, with five centuries and six half-centuries. He hit 31 sixes and 145 fours. His best of 140 not out came against India in the 2003 final, when he hit eight sixes.
2. AB de Villiers (SA) – 37 sixes in 23 games
No one can forget when AB de Villiers smashed a 64-ball 150 against the West Indies in the 2015 World Cup at the SCG. De Villiers made 162 off 66 and hit eight sixes. Just like this, he made some other knocks as well. He played 23 World Cup games in his career and scored 1207 runs at a strike rate of 117.29, hitting 37 sixes and 121 fours.
1. Chris Gayle (WI) – 49 sixes in 35 games
When it comes to hitting big sixes, not many can match the power of Chris Gayle. Undoubtedly, he is at the top of this list. Gayle played 35 games between the 2003 and 2019 World Cup editions and hit 49 sixes and 116 fours. He also made 1186 runs, with two centuries and six half-centuries.