ODI cricket has seen some of the best ever power hitters to have played the game. Batsmen have entertained fans with huge sixes, whether it be through explosive openers or fearless finishers. One of the players who has to his name the prestigious record for most sixes in ODI cricket reflects a batsman dominating, timing and quick run scoring.
Through the years, there have been a number of legends in Rohit Sharma, Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, Sanath Jayasuriya and MS Dhoni who have provided cricket lovers across the globe with sensational spectacles of six-hitting displays. In the year 2026, Rohit Sharma broke Shahid Afridi’s long-standing record for most sixes in ODI history.
In this article, we will talk about the players who have hit sixes most in ODI cricket, their records-against which you can never judge a player and some achievements that solidify their places among the best hitters of ODI cricket.
Most Sixes in ODI Cricket
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Innings | Sixes |
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | India | 275+ | 267+ | 357 |
| 2 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 398 | 369 | 351 |
| 3 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 301 | 294 | 331 |
| 4 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 445 | 433 | 270 |
| 5 | MS Dhoni | India | 350 | 297 | 229 |
| 6 | Eoin Morgan | England | 248 | 230 | 220 |
| 7 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 228 | 218 | 204 |
| 8 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 260 | 228 | 200 |
| 9 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 463 | 452 | 195 |
| 10 | Sourav Ganguly | India | 311 | 300 | 190 |
Statistics updated for 2026.
ODI Most Sixes-The Great Rohit Sharma
As Indian captain Rohit Sharma has changed the way ODI batting with his natural stroke play and 100s are going in a matter of seconds. The hitman Rohit had surpassed Shahid Afridi’s record in late 2025 as he extended his tally to 357 ODI sixes by the year 2026.
Major Achievements
- Most six in ODI Cricketer History
- Three ODI double centuries
- Highest individual ODI score (264)
- Multiple ICC tournament centuries
- One of the most successful ODI openers of all time
Dominance over fast bowlers even outside the sub-continent and masterclass against spinners has made him one of the greatest Indian white-ball batsmen.
Read More: Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
Shahid Afridi: The Six-Hitter Supreme
Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi had held the world record for most ODI sixes before Rohit Sharma eclipsed it recently, a feat which endured capitally for 15 years.
The player who was called “Boom Boom Afridi” has changed the way how aggressive batting is played in late 1990s and early 2000s.
ODI Career Highlights
- 351 sixes
- Many years fastest ODI century (37 balls)
- Match-winning all-round performances
- An evergreen ODI great for Pakistan
Afridi became an entire generation of attacking batsmen’s inspiration with his fearless approach.
Chris Gayle – The Universe Boss
No one has felt a cricket ball coming off the bat like Chris Gayle. The West Indian big-hitter hit 331 ODI sixes, making him one of the most destructive players to ever play the game.
Career Highlights
- Two ODI double centuries
- 300+ ODI sixes
- 10,000+ ODI runs
- Dominated bowlers worldwide
What Gayle lacks in brute strength, he makes up for with exceptional timing, making six-hitting appear easy.
Sanath Jayasuriya – The only the Game changing factor
Former Sri Lankan star Sanath Jayasuriya redefined ODI batting with his blistering starts in the early overs.
He ended his ODI career with 270 maximums to his name, in a generation that saw fewer big hitting.
Aggressive opening techniques of modern times were influenced by his fearless batting.
MS Dhoni – The Ultimate Finisher
One of the best finishers in cricket history is former Indian captain MS Dhoni.
Dhoni finished off matches with big sixes ( like the huge World Cup winning 6 in 2011 ) but he was not known for his calm.
Career Numbers
- 229 ODI sixes
- 10,000+ ODI runs
- 2011 World Cup-winning captain
- One of the all-time great wicketkeeper-batsmen
More than 200 ODI Sixes scored by players

| Player | Sixes |
| Rohit Sharma | 357 |
| Shahid Afridi | 351 |
| Chris Gayle | 331 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 270 |
| MS Dhoni | 229 |
| Eoin Morgan | 220 |
| AB de Villiers | 204 |
| Brendon McCullum | 200 |
Most Sixes in a Single ODI Innings
| Player | Sixes | Score | Opposition | Year |
| Eoin Morgan | 17 | 148 | Afghanistan | 2019 |
| Rohit Sharma | 16 | 264 | Sri Lanka | 2014 |
| Chris Gayle | 16 | 215 | Zimbabwe | 2015 |
| Shane Watson | 15 | 185* | Bangladesh | 2011 |
| AB de Villiers | 16 | 162* | West Indies | 2015 |
Importance of Six-Hitting in ODI Cricket
ODI cricket has long had elements of attacking batting built in, but never more so than today. Gone are the days when it used to be a mammoth task for any side to cross 300 runs, which highlights six-hitting as an invaluable skill.
Advantages of scoring more sixes:
- Faster scoring rate
- Increased pressure on bowlers
- Better utilization of powerplays
- Easier chase of big totals
- Momentum shifts during crucial moments
Since then, boundaries have become more vital than ever before – as players like Rohit Sharma, Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers have proven that a single innings containing repeated boundary balls can completely alter the outcome of a match.
Modern Players Climbing the List
Here is a look at some of the active cricketers closing in on the all-time ODI sixes rankings:
| Player | Status |
| Rohit Sharma | Current record holder |
| Jos Buttler | Active |
| Glenn Maxwell | Active |
| Hardik Pandya | Active |
| Travis Head | Active |
| Heinrich Klaasen | Active |
Some began to approach the Top 10 last season and more should get in there over the next few years if they continue regular play.
Interesting Facts About ODI Sixes
- With 357 sixes in his prolific ODI career, no player has hit more than Rohit Sharma.
- Rohit broke the record previously held by Shahid Afridi for almost 15 years.
- Sixes hits as an overall: Chris Gayle (WA) · 477 from the West Indies
- Eoin Morgan tops the list of players with the highest number of sixes (17) hit in a single ODI inning.
- No ODI century has ever touched Rohit Sharma’s 264.
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Conclusion
The fight for most sixes in ODI cricket illustrates the creation of batting power going back decades, all the way back to the assault on pitches that began with one-day Internationals and continues even now. Whether it is the fearless power-hitting of Shahid Afridi, brute strength by Chris Gayle and ease of timing from Rohit Sharma.
At the end of 2026, Rohit Sharma will sit at number one with 357 ODI sixes – not by a narrow margin but as the clear greatest six-hitter in One Day Internationals history. New generations of power hitters will come, sure to threaten this record in the future, but for now, the “Hitman” reigns supreme.
FAQs – Most Sixes in ODI
Q1. Who has hit the most sixes in ODI cricket?
Answer: As of 2026, Rohit Sharma holds the record for the most sixes in ODI cricket with 357 sixes, surpassing Shahid Afridi’s previous record of 351.
Q2. Who was the previous record holder for the most sixes in ODI?
Answer: Pakistan legend Shahid Afridi held the record for many years with 351 ODI sixes before Rohit Sharma overtook him in November 2025.
Q3. Which player has the third-most sixes in ODI history?
Answer: Chris Gayle is third on the all-time list with 331 sixes in ODI cricket.
Q4. Who has hit the most sixes in a single ODI innings?
Answer: Eoin Morgan holds the record for the most sixes in a single ODI innings, smashing 17 sixes against Afghanistan during the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
Q5. How many ODI sixes has Rohit Sharma hit?
Answer: As of his most recent ODI in 2026, Rohit Sharma has hit 357 sixes, making him the all-time leader in ODI cricket.
Q6. Which Indian player has the second-most ODI sixes?
Answer: MS Dhoni ranks second among Indian players with 229 ODI sixes, behind Rohit Sharma.
Q7. Who are the top five players with the most sixes in ODI cricket?
Answer: The top five are:
Rohit Sharma – 357
Shahid Afridi – 351
Chris Gayle – 331
Sanath Jayasuriya – 270
MS Dhoni – 229

