Hitman on the Hunt: Rohit Sharma Nears Shahid Afridi’s Legendary Sixes Tally

In a thrilling encounter in New Delhi, opening batsman Rohit Sharma showcased his incredible power-hitting with a magnificent unbeaten century. Supported by a solid 74* from Virat Kohli and an impressive four-wicket haul by pacer Harshit Rana, India secured a dominant nine-wicket victory over Australia in the third and final One-Day International. Despite this emphatic win, India concluded the series with a 1-2 loss.

Harshit Rana was the star with the ball, delivering a superb spell of 4/39 to restrict Australia to a modest total of 236 runs in 46.4 overs, setting the stage for India’s chase.

Rohit Sharma then took charge, orchestrating a vintage performance with his blistering 121* runs off just 125 deliveries, turning the chase into a one-sided affair. He forged an initial 69-run opening partnership with Shubman Gill (24) before joining forces with Kohli for an unbroken 168-run stand, guiding India comfortably to their target in a mere 38.3 overs.

Sharma’s innings was a masterclass of boundary-hitting, featuring 13 fours and three towering sixes. Kohli, not to be outdone, remained unbeaten on 74 runs off 81 balls, including seven boundaries.

This particular innings held significant historical weight for Rohit. With his three sixes, he edged even closer to an extraordinary milestone: surpassing former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi’s record for the most sixes in ODIs.

Currently, Rohit Sharma boasts an impressive 349 sixes in 276 matches, making him the second-highest six-hitter in One-Day International history. Shahid Afridi, who played 398 ODIs between 1996 and 2015, still leads the chart with a formidable 351 sixes.

Other prominent names on the list of top ODI six-hitters include Chris Gayle (331 sixes in 301 matches), Sanath Jayasuriya (270 in 445 matches), and MS Dhoni (229 in 350 matches).

Rohit’s remarkable career figures further highlight his consistent brilliance: he has amassed 11,370 runs in 268 innings, including 33 centuries and 59 half-centuries, at an impressive average of 49.22 and a striking rate of 92.66. His highest score in ODIs stands at an astonishing 264 runs.

All-Time ODI Six-Hitting Leaders: