Heinrich Klaasen achieved a remarkable milestone on November 9, 2024, during the first T20I against India when he became the fourth player in history to hit 100 sixes in a calendar year. The South African wicketkeeper-batter reached the landmark with a single six in South Africa's run chase at Kingsmead, Durban, joining an exclusive list of cricketers known for their powerful hitting in the shortest format of the game.
Klaasen’s achievement places him in elite company, alongside some of the biggest hitters in T20 history. West Indies stars Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, and Andre Russell are the only other players to have hit 100 sixes in a calendar year. Gayle, often regarded as one of the greatest T20 batsmen of all time, has reached the 100 sixes milestone six times in his career, with his highest tally coming in 2015 when he hit 135 sixes in a single year. Pooran, who has had an outstanding year in 2024, leads the pack with an incredible 165 sixes, while Russell achieved the feat in 2019, with 100 sixes in that year alone.
Klaasen’s 100 sixes make him the fourth player to join this prestigious group, and it is a testament to his consistency and power-hitting ability. His achievement came at a time when the T20 format continues to grow in popularity and become even more focused on explosive batting, with players like Klaasen lighting up the field with their boundary-hitting prowess.
The list of players with the most sixes in a calendar year in T20 cricket is a who’s who of big-hitters. Klaasen’s entry into this list places him among the game’s elite players, and it is a recognition of his hard work and dedication to improving his game. As for the other players, Pooran’s 165 sixes in 2024 is a record that has set a high bar for power hitting in T20 cricket. Gayle’s consistent performance over the years has made him a T20 legend, and his six 100-plus six years are a testament to his enduring dominance in the format.
Here is a look at the players who have hit the most sixes in a calendar year in T20 cricket:
- Nicholas Pooran – 165 sixes in 2024
- Chris Gayle – 135 sixes in 2015
- Chris Gayle – 121 sixes in 2012
- Chris Gayle – 116 sixes in 2011
- Chris Gayle – 112 sixes in 2016
- Chris Gayle – 101 sixes in 2017
- Andre Russell – 100 sixes in 2019
- Chris Gayle – 100 sixes in 2013
- Heinrich Klaasen – 100 sixes in 2024
- Glenn Phillips – 97 sixes in 2021
Klaasen’s achievement not only places him in rare company but also highlights the growing trend of explosive batting in T20 cricket. As the format evolves, players are pushing boundaries, and hitting 100 sixes in a year is becoming a major milestone. With the likes of Klaasen and Pooran leading the charge, the future of T20 cricket looks set to witness even more thrilling displays of power hitting.
