In T20Is, both Yuvraj Singh and Kieron Pollard scored 36 runs in an over, while in the IPL, Chris Gayle set the record with 37 runs off Prasanth Parameswaran in 2011.
Most Runs Scored in an Over Across Formats
Cricket has witnessed moments of extraordinary batting brilliance, where individual overs turned into carnivals of runs. From Tests to T20s, batters have seized opportunities to create history, often at the expense of hapless bowlers.
Let’s delve into the most expensive overs across formats and leagues, including the Indian Premier League (IPL).
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Most Runs in an Over in Test Cricket
| Runs | Batter | Bowler | Match | Venue | Year | Over Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Jasprit Bumrah | Stuart Broad | India v England | Birmingham | 2022 | 4, w, 4, nb, 6, 4, 4, 4, 6, 1 |
| 28 | Brian Lara | Robin Peterson | West Indies v South Africa | Johannesburg | 2003-04 | 4, 6, 6, 4, 4, 4 |
| 28 | George Bailey | James Anderson | Australia v England | Perth | 2013-14 | 4, 6, 2, 4, 6, 6 |
| 28 | Keshav Maharaj | Joe Root | South Africa v England | Port Elizabeth | 2019-20 | 4, 4, 4, 6, 6, b, 4 |
| 27 | Shahid Afridi | Harbhajan Singh | Pakistan v India | Lahore | 2005-06 | 6, 6, 6, 6, 2, 1 |
Test cricket, often seen as a war of attrition, occasionally serves as a stage for fireworks. The record for the most runs in an over in Tests is held by Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who smashed 35 runs off Stuart Broad in Birmingham in 2022.
In a rare display of batting dominance, Bumrah struck five boundaries, two sixes, and even benefitted from extras, including a no-ball and a wide. This 8-ball over stands alone as the highest in Test history.
Other notable performances include Brian Lara’s 28-run assault on South African spinner Robin Peterson in 2003, showcasing his elegance and aggression. Similarly, George Bailey, Keshav Maharaj, and Shahid Afridi have also claimed the spotlight with 27+ runs in individual overs during their Test careers.
Other notable performances include Brian Lara’s 28-run assault on South African spinner Robin Peterson in 2003, showcasing his elegance and aggression. Similarly, George Bailey, Keshav Maharaj, and Shahid Afridi have also claimed the spotlight with 27+ runs in individual overs during their Test careers.
Most Runs in an Over in ODIs
| Runs | Batter | Bowler | Match | Venue | Year | Over Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | Herschelle Gibbs | Daan van Bunge | South Africa v Netherlands | St. Kitts | 2006-07 | 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 |
| 36 | Jaskaran Malhotra | Gaudi Toka | USA v PNG | Al Amerat | 2021 | 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 |
| 35 | Thisara Perera | Robin Peterson | Sri Lanka v South Africa | Pallekele | 2013 | 6, W, 6, 6, 6, 4, 6 |
| 34 | AB de Villiers | Jason Holder | South Africa v West Indies | Sydney | 2014-15 | 4, nb, 6, 2nb, 4, 4, 4, 2, 6 |
| 34 | James Neesham | Thisara Perera | New Zealand v Sri Lanka | Mount Maunganui | 2018-19 | 6, 6, 6, 6, nb, 6, 1 |
ODI cricket has seen its fair share of explosive overs, with the maximum possible runs, 36 in a single over, achieved twice. The first instance came during the 2007 ICC World Cup when South African star Herschelle Gibbs annihilated Dutch bowler Daan van Bunge, hitting six consecutive sixes in St. Kitts. In 2021, Jaskaran Malhotra of the USA replicated this feat against PNG’s Gaudi Toka, further cementing the rarity of the achievement.
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Another remarkable effort came in 2013 when Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera hammered 35 runs against South African spinner Robin Peterson, hitting five sixes and a four, alongside a wide delivery. Such performances reflect the aggressive transformation of ODI cricket over the decades.
Most Runs in an Over in T20Is
| Runs | Batter | Bowler | Match | Venue | Over Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | Darius Visser | Nalin Nipiko | Samoa v Vanuatu | Apia | 6, 6, 6nb, 6nb, nb, 6, 6 |
| 36 | Yuvraj Singh | Stuart Broad | India v England | Durban | 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 |
| 36 | Kieron Pollard | Akila Dananjaya | West Indies v Sri Lanka | Antigua | 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 |
| 36 | Dipendra Singh Airee | Kamran Khan | Nepal v Qatar | Al Amerat | 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6 |
In the shortest format, where power-hitting is the norm, bowlers have often borne the brunt of outrageous batting displays. The record for the most runs in a single T20I over stands at 39, achieved by Darius Visser of Samoa against Vanuatu’s Nalin Nipiko in 2024. Visser’s remarkable over included six sixes, aided by three no-balls.
Several other instances of six consecutive sixes have graced T20I cricket. Indian icon Yuvraj Singh first achieved this in the 2007 T20 World Cup against England’s Stuart Broad, setting a benchmark for such feats. Players like Kieron Pollard and Dipendra Singh Airee have since joined the elite club, delivering similar performances on the international stage.
Several other instances of six consecutive sixes have graced T20I cricket. Indian icon Yuvraj Singh first achieved this in the 2007 T20 World Cup against England’s Stuart Broad, setting a benchmark for such feats. Players like Kieron Pollard and Dipendra Singh Airee have since joined the elite club, delivering similar performances on the international stage.
Most Runs in an Over in the IPL
| Rank | Players | Bowler | Match | Venue | Runs in an Over | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Gayle | Prasanth Parameswaran | RCB vs KTK | Bengaluru | 37 runs (6nb,6,4,4,6,6,4) | 8 May 2011 |
| 2 | Ravindra Jadeja | Harshal Patel | CSK vs RCB | Mumbai | 37 runs (6,6nb,6,6,2,6,4) | 25 April 2021 |
| 3 | Pat Cummins | Daniel Sams | KKR vs MI | Pune | 35 runs (6,4,6,6nb,2,4,6) | 6 April 2022 |
| 4 | Suresh Raina | Parvinder Awana | CSK vs KXIP | Mumbai | 33 runs (6,6,4nb,4,4,4) | 30 May 2014 |
| 5 | Manoj Tiwari & Chris Gayle | Ravi Bopara | KKR vs PBKS | Kolkata | 33 runs (6,6,6,6,wd4,wd1) | 4 April 2010 |
The IPL, cricket’s premier T20 league, has witnessed some unforgettable moments of run-scoring carnage. The joint-record for the most runs in a single over stands at 37, achieved by two iconic players.
In 2011, Chris Gayle, known for his explosive batting, decimated Prasanth Parameswaran of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala, smashing four sixes and three fours, with the assistance of a no-ball. A decade later, Ravindra Jadeja replicated this feat against RCB’s Harshal Patel, hitting five sixes and a four in an over bolstered by extras.
In 2011, Chris Gayle, known for his explosive batting, decimated Prasanth Parameswaran of the Kochi Tuskers Kerala, smashing four sixes and three fours, with the assistance of a no-ball. A decade later, Ravindra Jadeja replicated this feat against RCB’s Harshal Patel, hitting five sixes and a four in an over bolstered by extras.
Also Read: 6 Ball 6 Six Record in CricketAnother notable performance came from Pat Cummins in 2022, when he smashed 35 runs off Daniel Sams during a match between KKR and MI. These extraordinary overs highlight the IPL’s reputation as a festival of big hitting and entertainment.
Conclusion
From Jasprit Bumrah’s historic 35-run over in Tests to Darius Visser’s 39-run spectacle in T20Is, these remarkable moments showcase the unpredictability and excitement of cricket.
While bowlers often dominate discussions of skill and strategy, these overs remind us of the sheer power and precision of batters who redefine the boundaries of possibility in the sport.