Stats: Virat Kohli batter with fifth-most sixes in IPL history

Royal Challengers Bangalore got off to a great start against Lucknow Super Giants in their third game of the Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL) on April 10 as Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis out a show at M Chinnasway Stadium to put early pressure on KL Rahul-led team. Kohli, who smashed 82* against Mumbai Indians in his last innings at the same venue, pulled off another fifty.

Kohli smashed four fours and four big sixes before getting out on 61 off 44. He has now recorded 227 sixes from his 218 IPL innings and surpassed former Mumbai Indians' batter Kieron Pollard in the process. The former West Indies legend registered 223 sixes from 171 IPL innings as he retired from the league at the end of the 2022 edition.

However, the RCB stalwart is now among the top five cricketers with the most sixes in IPL history. He is only five behind CSK skipper MS Dhoni, who has 232 maximums to his name.

Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma is third in the chart with 241 sixes, while former Royal Challengers Bangalore star AB de Villiers is second in the list with 251 sixes from 170 innings. Chirs Gayle comfortably leads the chart with 357 sixes from just 170 IPL innings. After Kohli, Rohit, and Dhoni, Australia's David Warner is the only active cricketer with over 200 sixes in IPL history. 

The 34-year-old veteran started the IPL 2023 campaign with a sensational match-winning knock of 86* off 49 with the help of six fours and five sixes. He has already recorded nine sixes from innings this season. 

Meanwhile, KL Rahul won the toss and invited Royal Challengers Bangalore to bat first. But Kohli’s heroics quickly put pressure on Lucknow Super Giants as the batter pulled off a 96-run stand for the opening wicket with du Plessis. Kohli departed in the 12th over while trying to smash his fifth six of the night over the mid-on but Faf and new batter Glenn Maxwell have kept the momentum on with 138/1 in just 15 overs.

Most sixes in IPL history: