The player with the highest amount of sixes across international ODI cricket is Indian opener Rohit Sharma, who has hit 381 sixes.
On 30th November 2025, Rohit Sharma broke the long standing record held by Shahid Afridi, smashing 351 sixes.
Some of the strongest hitters in history have played in ODI cricket. Players like Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi, MS Dhoni and AB de Villiers have all provided incredible entertainment to fans with their power hitting.
Six hitting plays a big role in modern ODI cricket. It allows players to raise their scoring rates and puts pressure on bowlers.
This article takes a look at some of the most sixes in international ODI cricket, looking at the top 10 players, their career stats, some of India’s best hitting records and the most sixes in one innings.
Who Has Hit The Most Sixes In ODI International Cricket?
Rohit Sharma has hit the most sixes in ODI international cricket.
As of October 2026, the Indian batter has hit 381 sixes in 291 ODI matches.
This broke the previous record held by Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, who ended his ODI career with 351 sixes.
Third place goes to West Indies legend Chris Gayle, with 331 sixes.
Most Sixes In ODI International Cricket – Top 10 Players
| Rank | Player | Country | Matches | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | India | 291 | 381 |
| 2 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 398 | 351 |
| 3 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 301 | 331 |
| 4 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 445 | 270 |
| 5 | MS Dhoni | India | 350 | 229 |
| 6 | Eoin Morgan | England | 248 | 220 |
| 7 | AB de Villiers | South Africa | 228 | 204 |
| 8 | Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 260 | 200 |
| 9 | Sachin Tendulkar | India | 463 | 195 |
| 10 | Jos Buttler | England | 204 | 193 |
Stats up to October 2026. Active players may see their stats change after future matches.
This list contains some of the most successful and aggressive hitters in history.
Top 10 Players With The Most Sixes In ODI Cricket
Many international players have set impressive records with their power hitting.
Let’s take a look at some of the top players:
1. Rohit Sharma – 381 Sixes
Rohit Sharma has the record for the most sixes in men’s international ODI cricket.
The Indian opener is known for his timing, pulling ability and his ability to score big centuries.
Rohit has scored three double centuries in ODI cricket. His record breaking 264 came against Sri Lanka in 2014.
Rohit Sharma broke the record for the most sixes in November 2025.
His aggressive style has played a key role in India’s success internationally.
2. Shahid Afridi – 351 Sixes
Shahid Afridi was one of the most aggressive hitters in international cricket.
The former Pakistan all-rounder hit 351 sixes in his ODI career.
Shahid is well known for attacking the bowling right from the start of his innings.
He had one of the most entertaining styles of play due to his power hitting.
3. Chris Gayle – 331 Sixes
Chris Gayle was a powerful opener for the West Indies.
The West Indians hit 331 sixes in his ODI career.
He was incredibly dangerous against spin, being able to hit huge boundaries.
Gayle’s aggressive style made him one of the best hitters in international cricket.
4. Sanath Jayasuriya – 270 Sixes
Sanath Jayasuriya was a legendary opener for Sri Lanka.
Jayasuriya hit 270 sixes in ODI cricket.
Sanath revolutionised the way openers played limited overs cricket attacking the bowling from the start of his innings.
His aggressive style helped Sri Lanka find success in major tournaments.
5. MS Dhoni – 229 Sixes
MS Dhoni is one of the most successful wicket keepers in India.
Dhoni hit 229 sixes in his ODI career.
MS Dhoni was known for his finishing ability and power hitting with his helicopter shot.
Often Dhoni would hit big shots to win games.
6. Eoin Morgan – 220 Sixes
Eoin Morgan played a key role in England’s revolution in limited overs cricket.
Morgan hit 220 sixes in his ODI career.
Eoin is known for his attacking style of play and his ability to score quickly against spin.
Eoin led England to victory in the 2019 ODI World Cup.
7. AB de Villiers – 204 Sixes
AB de Villiers was one of the most innovative hitters in South Africa.
De Villier hit 204 sixes in ODI cricket.
Known as Mr. 360, he had the ability to play attacking shots to all areas of the ground.
With his amazing batting ability he became one of the most dangerous players in ODI cricket.
8. Brendon McCullum – 200 Sixes
Brendon McCullum was a powerful opener and captain for New Zealand.
McCullum hit 200 sixes in his ODI career.
Brendon is known for his aggressive style and ability to put pressure on the bowling.
McCullum played a key role in getting New Zealand to the 2015 ODI World Cup final.
9. Sachin Tendulkar – 195 Sixes
Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest batters in cricket history.
Tendulkar hit 195 sixes in his ODI career.
Sachin played 463 ODI matches and scored 18,426 runs.
Sachin was known for his technical ability, consistency and variety of shots.
10. Jos Buttler – 193 Sixes
Jos Buttler is one of the most aggressive limited overs hitters for England.
As of October 2026, Buttler has hit 193 sixes in ODI cricket.
Jos is known for his power hitting, innovation and acceleration in the last overs.
Jos Buttler’s six hitting record may increase further as he continues to play international cricket.
Rohit Sharma Most Sixes In ODI Cricket Record
Rohit Sharma made history by breaking Shahid Afridi’s record for most sixes in ODI cricket.
This happened in a match against South Africa on 30th November 2025 in Ranchi.
During his innings, Rohit hit 3 sixes taking his total to 352 sixes in his career.
Since then he has added more sixes.
Rohit Sharma ODI Six Hitting Record
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Rohit Sharma |
| Country | India |
| Sixes (ODI) | 381 |
| Matches (ODI) | 291 |
| Previous Record Holder | Shahid Afridi |
| Previous Record | 351 Sixes |
| Date Of Record Break | 30th November 2025 |
| Versus | South Africa |
| Location | Ranchi, India |
It is impressive that Rohit Sharma broke this record in fewer matches than Shahid Afridi.
Rohit has become one of the most dangerous openers with his ability to hit sixes.
Most Sixes In ODI Cricket By Indian Players
India have produced some incredible hitters who have hit hundreds of sixes in ODI cricket.
On top of the list is Rohit Sharma with MS Dhoni coming in second.
Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly also have impressive records.
Top Indian Six Hitters In ODI Cricket
| Player | Sixes (ODI) |
|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 381 |
| MS Dhoni | 229 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 195 |
| Sourav Ganguly | 190 |
Rohit Sharma’s power hitting has allowed him to create a big lead over other Indian players.
This record shows how attacking batting is becoming more important in modern ODI cricket.
Most Sixes In An ODI Innings
Eoin Morgan holds the record for the most sixes in an innings of men’s ODI cricket.
He hit 17 sixes against Afghanistan during the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
Eoin scored 148 runs off just 71 balls.
This helped England rack up a massive total against Afghanistan.
Most Sixes In An ODI Innings – Famous Records
| Player | Country | Sixes | VS | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eoin Morgan | England | 17 | Afghanistan | 2019 |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 16 | Australia | 2013 |
| AB de Villiers | South Africa | 16 | West Indies | 2015 |
| Chris Gayle | West Indies | 16 | Zimbabwe | 2015 |
This shows how quickly a batter can change the course of a match using his power hitting.
Most Sixes In ODI World Cup History
There have been some incredible six hitting displays throughout the history of the ICC ODI World Cup.
Strong hitters often use their attacking style to increase their team’s scoring rates in big matches.
Chris Gayle holds the record for the most sixes in men’s ODI World Cup history with 49 sixes.
Rohit Sharma has also performed incredibly well in ODI World Cup tournaments.
During the 2023 World Cup, Rohit became the first batter to hit 50 sixes across all men’s ODI World Cup matches.
His attacking style during the tournament helped India get off to strong starts.
Why Are Sixes Important In ODI Cricket?
Six hitting has become a key element in modern One Day International cricket.
Sixes allow the batting team to score quick runs and can affect the momentum of the match.
1. Quick Scoring
Sixes allow teams to score quickly, especially in the last few overs.
2. Pressure On Bowlers
Constant boundaries can cause bowlers to change their line, length and field settings.
3. Chasing Large Targets
With strong hitting you can lower the target run rate when chasing tough totals.
4. Momentum Changes
A few sixes in a row can quickly change the momentum of the game.
5. Exciting For Cricket Fans
Big sixes are some of the most exciting moments in international cricket.
All of these reasons are why strong hitters are an asset in modern ODI teams.
Most Sixes In ODI, Test And T20 Cricket
There are three main forms of international cricket: Test, ODI and T20 Internationals.
Six hitting plays a different role in each.
Comparison Of Cricket Formats
| Feature | Test Cricket | ODI Cricket | T20 International |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length Of Match | Up To 5 Days | ~7-9 Hours | ~3-4 Hours |
| Overs | No Set Limit | 50 Overs Per Side | 20 Overs Per Side |
| Style Of Batting | Tactical | Balanced | Aggressive |
| Sixes | Situation Based | Important | Very Important |
| Focus Of Game | Building An Innings | Scoring & Partnerships | Quick Scoring |
Whilst T20 encourages lots of big hitting, there are still plenty of opportunities to hit hundreds of sixes in a career.
FAQs
Who has hit the most sixes in ODI international cricket?
As of October 2026, Rohit Sharma holds the record for the most sixes in men’s international ODI cricket with 381 sixes.
How many sixes has Shahid Afridi hit in ODI cricket?
Shahid Afridi hit 351 sixes in ODI cricket. He previously held this record.
How many sixes has Chris Gayle hit in ODI cricket?
Chris Gayle hit 331 sixes in ODI cricket for the West Indies.
Who has hit the most sixes in an innings of ODI cricket?
Eoin Morgan holds the record for most sixes in an innings of men’s ODI cricket, hitting 17 sixes against Afghanistan during the 2019 Cricket World Cup.
Which Indian player has hit the most sixes in ODI cricket?
Rohit Sharma has hit the most sixes in ODI cricket out of all Indian players. He is the top hitter in the all time men’s ODI six hitting rankings.
Conclusion
The record for most sixes in ODI international cricket belongs to Rohit Sharma who has hit 381 sixes as of October 2026.
Rohit Sharma broke the previous record held by Shahid Afridi with 351 sixes in November 2025.
Other top hitters include Chris Gayle, Sanath Jayasuriya and MS Dhoni.
Power hitting will continue to be an important element of ODI cricket as the game develops.
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