The RCB vs CSK game last night (April 17, 2023) lived up to, and perhaps even exceeded its expectations, with as many as 33 sixes being hit across 40 overs, equalling the record for the most sixes hit in an IPL match. Let’s take a look at the top six matches on this list.

Monday’s (April 17) RCB vs CSK game was the third time that 33 sixes were hit in an IPL game, and coincidentally, CSK have been a part of all three of them, with two of them being CSK vs RCB encounters.

Delhi Daredevils v Gujarat Lions, Delhi, IPL 2017 – 31 sixes

Sachin Tendulkar described Rishabh Pant’s knock in the match as “one of the best innings I have seen in the IPL & that includes all 10 seasons”. The wicketkeeper-batsman’s 43-ball-97 saw him hit nine maximums, facilitating DD’s chase of 209, which they completed with 15 balls to spare.

Pant was aided by Sanju Samson, who hit seven maximums in his knock of 61 off 31 deliveries while Shreyas Iyer and Corey Anderson chipped in with two each to make it 20 sixes for Delhi.

Gujarat, on the other hand, rode on captain Suresh Raina and Dinesh Karthik’s partnership of 133 for the third wicket, who hit a combined nine sixes before Ravindra Jadeja added a couple to take them to 208.

Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai, IPL 2018 – 31

11 of the 31 sixes in this encounter came from the blade of Andre Russell – the sixth-most by a batsman in an IPL innings. The all-rounder slammed 88 runs in 36 deliveries, powering KKR to 202-6 from 89-5.

Shane Watson started the onslaught for CSK in the run chase, hitting three sixes in his 19-ball 42 before Sam Billings took over from him. The Englishman sent the ball sailing over the rope on five occasions, adding 56 runs in 23 deliveries to see CSK through. All Chennai batters hit at least one maximum, adding 14 to KKR’s total of 17 sixes.

Kings XI Punjab vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Indore, IPL 2018 – 31

KKR registered the fourth-highest IPL total ever – 245-6, batting first. Sunil Narine hit four sixes, followed by Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik, who hit three each. Two more from Chris Lynn, and one each from Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana and Javon Searles took their total to 15.

KL Rahul provided KXIP with the much-needed impetus up top, scoring a quickfire 29-ball-66 with seven maximums. KXIP crossed KKR in the sixes count, scoring 16 of them, but fell well short of the target, finishing on 214-8.

Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings, Bengaluru, IPL 2018 – 33

This was the first IPL game where 33 sixes were hit. Batting first, the hosts posted a mammoth 206. Quinton de Kock’s 37-ball 53 featured four sixes while AB de Villiers hit eight maximums in his blistering 68 off 30. Mandeep Singh’s three and Pawan Negi’s one took RCB’s total to 16 maximums in the innings.

In reply, CSK hit 17 sixes as Dhoni completed an intense chase in trademark fashion – a six over long-on. Ambati Rayudu’s eight maximums coupled with Dhoni’s seven and one each from Shane Watson and Dwayne Bravo took the match’s tally to 33 maximums.

Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings, Sharjah, IPL 2020 – 33

This was the first game for both teams in IPL 2020 and the short boundaries of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium facilitated a run-fest. RR batted first and were led by Sanju Samson in the six-hitting spree. He hit as many as nine sixes en route to a 32-ball 74. Steve Smith and Jofra Archer hit four sixes each to take their tally to 17.

In response, Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis led the charge, hitting four and seven sixes respectively. Sam Curran hit two sixes after being promoted as a pinch-hitter and MS Dhoni capped it off with three sixes in the last over of the game to take the match tally to 33.

Talk about luck! ✨

Dhoni tonked one outside the stadium and this gentleman went home with the match ball. 🏏#IPL2020pic.twitter.com/y7MaabSV06

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) September 23, 2020

Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Chennai Super Kings, Bengaluru, IPL 2023 – 33

The arch-rivals met again at the Chinnaswamy in IPL 2023 and recreated their six-hitting extravaganza from 2018.

Batting first, CSK got off to a slow start and were 25-1 after four overs. They took off from there, hitting at least one six in 14 of the 16 overs that followed. Devon Conway led the way, hitting six sixes, followed by Shivam Dube who hit five. Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Moeen Ali, and Ravindra Jadeja combined to hit six more sixes, taking CSK’s total six count to 17.

The run-chase by RCB saw Glenn Maxwell go berserk. He cleared the rope eight times in just 36 deliveries, scoring an almost match-winning 76 off 36 balls. Faf du Plessis gave him good support as well, hitting four sixes and scoring a 33-ball 62. Four more sixes by Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik, and Suyash Prabhudessai combined saw RCB’s six-count go up to 16 and the total number of sixes in the match go up to a record-equalling 33.

RCB fell agonisingly short in the end by eight runs.