Split image comparison of Shahid Afridi and Tim David, the two players with the longest sixes in cricket history.
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Top 10 Longest Six in Cricket History (2026 Official List)

There is no sound better than the “crack” of the bat sending the ball out of the stadium. From Shahid Afridi’s boom-boom power to Liam Livingstone’s modern monsters, fans always ask: Who hit the longest six in cricket history?

Was it actually 158 meters? Or was that a myth? In this 2026 updated list, we rank the biggest hits to find the official longest six in cricket history, separating the rumors from the real records.

1. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 153 Meters*

  • The Legend: vs South Africa (2013)
  • The Controversy: Fans often search for the Shahid Afridi 158m six official record. While one unofficial measurement claimed 158m, the ICC recorded it closer to 153m. Regardless of the number, the ball cleared the Johannesburg stadium and landed on the golf course next door. It remains the benchmark for the longest six in cricket history.

2. Brett Lee (Australia) – 130 Meters

  • The Surprise: vs West Indies (2005) at The Gabba
  • The Shot: You don’t expect a fast bowler to be #2. But Brett Lee connected with a Daren Powell delivery so cleanly that it flew over the roof. It is officially the longest six in cricket history recorded in a Test match.

3. Tim David (Australia) – 129 Meters (The New 2025 Record)

  • The Viral Hit: vs India (2025) in Hobart
  • The Story: This is the entry that changed the list. In a T20 match against India, the Tim David longest six 129m record was set. He smashed spinner Axar Patel out of the Bellerive Oval, and radar technology confirmed it traveled a massive 129 meters.

4. Martin Guptill (New Zealand) – 127 Meters

  • The Clean Hit: vs South Africa (2012)
  • The Context: Guptill smashed Lonwabo Tsotsobe over the mid-wicket boundary at Wellington. The ball hit the roof of the stadium. If he had played this shot at one of the Top 10 Largest Cricket Stadiums, it still would have cleared the ropes easily.

5. Liam Livingstone (England) – 122 Meters

  • The Modern Beast: vs Pakistan (2021)
  • The Shot: Livingstone is the king of modern power-hitting. Players like him are the reason we now see the Fastest Century in T20 records being broken so often. He cleared the Headingley stadium with a 122m monster, earning his spot on the longest six in cricket history list.
Bar chart infographic comparing the top 5 longest sixes in cricket history by distance in meters
Visual comparison: The monsters of modern cricket vs the legends.

Longest Six in IPL History List (2008–2026)

The IPL has its own separate leaderboard. While Albie Morkel holds the all-time record, the 2025 season saw a new Indian hero rise. Here is the full Longest Six in IPL History List:

Rank Player Distance Year
1 Albie Morkel (CSK) 125m 2008
2 Praveen Kumar (PBKS) 124m 2011
3 Adam Gilchrist (PBKS) 122m 2011
4 Chris Gayle (RCB) 119m 2013
5 Ravindra Jadeja (CSK) 109m 2025
The Ravindra Jadeja longest six IPL 2025 hit (109m) vs RCB was the highlight of the season.

For more official stats on these monster hits, you can check the records on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Records page.


Honorable Mentions: Icons Who Missed the Cut

You might be wondering, “Where is Yuvraj Singh or MS Dhoni?” While they are legendary hitters, their longest recorded sixes just missed the top 5.

  • Yuvraj Singh (119m): His flick over square leg against Brett Lee in the 2007 T20 World Cup remains iconic.
  • MS Dhoni (118m): The helicopter shot often goes flat rather than high, but his massive six against New Zealand in 2009 is still remembered.

Conclusion

The race for the longest six in cricket history is heating up. Shahid Afridi’s 153m record has stood for over a decade, but with modern bats, 2026 might be the year we finally see a confirmed 160-meter hit.

Do you think the record for the longest six in cricket history will ever be broken? Let us know in the comments!

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