Rohit Sharma breaks Shahid Afridi’s record for most ODI sixes in history

India’s veteran batter Rohit Sharma broke former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi’s record for most ODI sixes in history. Afridi smashed 351 sixes in 369 ODI innings, whereas Rohit leapfrogged the former right-hander’s record in 269 innings.

Rohit smashed three sixes in his 57-run knock in the opening ODI against South Africa at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi on Sunday. This was the 60th ODI half-century for Rohit Sharma.

Rohit hit two consecutive sixes over deep midwicket off South African spinner Prenelan Subrayen in the 15th over of the innings to match Shahid Afridi’s record. The Indian opener then pulled Marco Jansen for a six to go past Afridi’s most sixes’ record. Former West Indian cricketer Chris Gayle has 331 sixes in 301 matches.

The former Indian skipper added 136 runs with Virat Kohli, who went on score a fine knock of 135 runs off 120 balls. The pair now have the most partnership runs by any duo in the world at home in ODI cricket. 

Kohli and Rohit have scored 2667 runs as a pair in ODI cricket in India, which is now the most runs at home, going past the previous record of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, both of whom had put 2596 runs in partnership in Sri Lanka.

Rohit had the rub of the green on his side as he was dropped by Tony de Zorzi when he was on just one run on the bowling of Nandre Burger.

India were able to post a par score of 349 runs on the board after they were put into bat by stand-in South African captain Aiden Markram. KL Rahul also added the finishing touches, scoring 60 runs off 56 balls.