There’s something magical about a six in cricket. The ball soaring into the stands, the crowd erupting, and the batsman raising his bat in triumph it’s a moment fans live for. In One Day Internationals (ODIs), sixes change the momentum of the game in an instant. Over the years, several batsmen have made a name for themselves by sending the ball over the ropes with incredible consistency.
Here is a glance at the top 10 batsmen with the most sixes in ODI cricket history, whose huge hitting has left an indelible mark on the sport.
1. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – 351 Sixes
Boom Boom Afridi tops the list of batsman with most sixes in ODIs history. He is renowned for his forceful and aggressive hitting style, blasted 351 sixes in 398 games. Be it the first or the last over, he had a mind-set to attack from ball one. His strike rate was also the highest, making him one of the most fun-loving players to have ever played the game.
2. Rohit Sharma (India) – 344 Sixes
Duly nicknamed the “Hitman,” Rohit Sharma has revolutionized clean hitting in contemporary cricket. He is the only active cricket player on this exclusive list, having hit 344 sixes in ODIs and counting. He is a bowlers’ nightmare because to his ability to easily clear boundaries, especially in bilateral series and ICC competitions.
3. Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 331 Sixes
The “Universe Boss” injected Caribbean panache into ODI cricket with his raw power and swagger. Chris Gayle scored 331 ODIs sixes, most of which found themselves deep in the stands. His aggressive style at the top disrupted games in matter of minutes and influenced a whole generation of power-hitters.
4. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) – 270 Sixes
A trailblazer of aggressive batting in ODIs, Jayasuriya played a key role in revolutionizing the opening slot. With 270 sixes, he made his mark in the list of most sixes in ODI cricket; he combined timing and brute force. His famous partnerships with Romesh Kaluwitharana changed how teams approached the first 15 overs.
5. MS Dhoni (India) – 229 Sixes
The calm finisher of Indian cricket, MS Dhoni made six-hitting look easy. With 229 sixes in ODIs, his helicopter shot became iconic. Dhoni rarely showed emotion, but his bat spoke volumes, especially in crunch situations when India needed a boundary under pressure.
6. Eoin Morgan (England/Ireland) – 220 Sixes
England became a strong force in white-ball cricket because of Morgan’s aggressive leadership and gutsy batting. He blasted 220 sixes in ODIs and was a key part of England’s offensive plan. His fearlessness helped England win the World Cup in 2019.
7. AB de Villiers (South Africa) – 204 Sixes
In ODI cricket, Mr. 360, as his admirers often refer to him, struck 204 sixes in the most unconventional yet graceful ways. AB de Villiers shot range was unparalleled, whether he was reverse-sweeping into the crowd or scooping over delicate leg. He became a global favorite due to his inventiveness.
8. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand) – 200 Sixes
McCullum brought New Zealand cricket a new identity with fearless batting. He went after bowlers right from the very beginning, adding his name in the list of most sixes in ODI cricket by hitting 200 sixes in ODIs. His aggression as an opener changed the way Kiwi cricket approached ODIs, especially during the 2015 World Cup.
9. Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 195 Sixes
The Master Blaster was known more for his timing than raw power, but still managed to hit 195 sixes in ODIs during his legendary career. Sachin Tendulkar’s sixes often came with a touch of class whether stepping out to spinners or pulling pacers with ease.
10. Sourav Ganguly (India) – 190 Sixes
Dada brought elegance and aggression to Indian batting, being onf the name in the list of most sixes in ODIs. His 190 ODI sixes often came with a signature step-down-the-track shot over long-on. Ganguly’s leadership and strokeplay played a key role in India’s rise in world cricket during the early 2000s.
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FAQs
Ans. Shahid Afridi holds the record for one of the longest sixes in ODI history, estimated at 153 meters.
Ans. Rohit Sharma is just 16 sixes away from breaking Shahid Afridi’s ODI record of 351 sixes, with 335 to his name so far.
Ans. The record for the most sixes conceded by a bowler in ODIs belongs to Haris Rauf (Pakistan), who gave away 100 sixes in his career.
Ans. Sachin Tendulkar hit 27 sixes across all the ODI World Cups he played.
Ans. The record for the fastest player to hit 100 sixes in ODIs belongs to Kieron Pollard (West Indies), who achieved this milestone in just 86 innings.
