Indian opener Rohit Sharma equalled the record for most number of sixes by an Indian during the third ODI against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui on Monday. Rohit hit his second consecutive fifty at the Bay Oval, scoring an attacking 62 off 77 balls to help India chase down a modest total of 243 with 7 wickets in hand. The victory gave India an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series and their first ODI series win in New Zealand in 10 years.
Rohit hit 2 sixes in his 62-run knock that took his sixes tally to 215 in ODI cricket equalling Dhoni’s record. Rohit’s record-equaling six came off pacer Lockie Ferguson. Dhoni, however, has 222 ODI sixes to his name but 7 of those came for Asia XI.
Rohit has equalled Dhoni’s record at a much quicker pace. The Mumbai batsman has taken only 199 matches whereas Dhoni took 334 matches to do the same.
Top 5 Proflific Six Hitters in ODI Cricket
| PLAYER | TEAM(s) | MATCHES | SIXES |
| Shahid Afridi | Pakistan/Asia/ICC | 398 | 351 |
| Chris Gayle | West Indies/ICC | 284 | 275 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka/Asia | 445 | 270 |
| MS Dhoni | India/Asia | 337 | 222 |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 199 | 215 |
Rohit Sharma is also the only cricketer in top 20 who averages more than 1 six per match.
Rohit has hit 66 sixes against Australia – the most he has hit against any opposition – and he has cleared the ropes 39 times against Sri Lanka.
The record for the most number of ODI sixes stands with former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi, who has 351 sixes to his name in 398 matches.
Rohit, currently the No. 2-ranked ODI batsman, is also the only cricketer to have hit three double centuries in ODIs.
Rohit will be captaining India for the remaining ODIs and the entire three-match T20I series as Virat Kohli will fly back home as part of BCCI's workload management.