New Delhi, India - The Indian Premier League (IPL) witnessed a historic night on Friday as the 42nd match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) shattered the record for most sixes hit in a men's T20 cricket match. The high-octane encounter at Eden Gardens was a true testament to the ever-evolving nature of T20 cricket.

A flurry of sixes rained down from both teams, rewriting the record books in an instant. A staggering 42 maximums were launched during the match, surpassing the previous record of 38 sixes hit jointly in matches between Mumbai Indians-Sunrisers Hyderabad and Sunrisers Hyderabad-Royal Challengers Bangalore.

PBKS batsmen were particularly destructive, contributing 24 of the total sixes. Their power-hitting quartet of Prabhsimran Singh, Jonny Bairstow (who scored a brilliant century), Riley Rossouw, and Shashank Singh combined for this record-breaking feat. Their effort even eclipsed the highest number of sixes in an IPL innings, previously held by Royal Challengers Bangalore (22 sixes)

Nepal currently holds the top spot for most sixes in a T20 innings (26), achieved against Mongolia in the 2023 Asian Games. However, PBKS's dominant display against KKR comes a close second, showcasing their aggressive batting approach.

Earlier, KKR set a mammoth target of 261 runs on the board, with significant contributions from openers Phil Salt (75 runs) and Sunil Narine (71 runs). Despite their valiant effort, KKR's bowling attack couldn't withstand the onslaught from the PBKS batsmen. Jonny Bairstow's unbeaten 108 and explosive cameos from Prabhsimran Singh, Riley Rossouw, and Shashank Singh propelled PBKS to a remarkable victory, chasing down the target with 8 balls to spare.

This record-breaking match not only adds another chapter to the ever-exciting tale of the IPL but also highlights the growing emphasis on power hitting in the T20 format.