Very few batters have the knack of hitting sixes on will in a cricket ground. They have the natural instincts to bring the bat under the ball at the right time with the right execution of shot-making.
Rohit Sharma’s pull shot and Chris Gayle’s lofted on-drives are perfect examples of that – two of the all time leading six hitters across formats.
And when they come against the right opponents, the numbers just shoot up. For instance, Rohit against Australian pacers and Gaylestorm when it strikes in England.
This article will list the top ten instances of batsmen hitting the most number of sixes against a particular opponent.
Most Sixes against an Opponent in ODIs
| Opponent | Player | Inns | 6s | 6s/inns | Runs | SR | 4s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Rohit Sharma (IND) | 49 | 93 | 1.9 | 2609 | 95.11 | 215 |
| England | Chris Gayle (WI) | 34 | 85 | 2.5 | 1632 | 96.16 | 146 |
| Sri Lanka | Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 64 | 63 | 0.98 | 1248 | 120.23 | 97 |
| Sri Lanka | Rohit Sharma (IND) | 53 | 58 | 1.09 | 2021 | 96.97 | 192 |
| Pakistan | Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 79 | 53 | 0.67 | 2517 | 87.21 | 263 |
| India | Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 64 | 51 | 0.8 | 1524 | 109.09 | 158 |
| New Zealand | Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 35 | 50 | 1.43 | 1078 | 130.5 | 103 |
| New Zealand | Rohit Sharma (IND) | 32 | 49 | 1.53 | 1134 | 85.26 | 102 |
| Australia | Eoin Morgan (ENG/IRE) | 56 | 48 | 0.86 | 1952 | 91.34 | 168 |
| Zimbabwe | Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 29 | 47 | 1.62 | 762 | 130.7 | 50 |
| India | Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 85 | 46 | 0.54 | 2899 | 96.98 | 330 |
| Sri Lanka | Mahendra Singh Dhoni (IND) | 53 | 45 | 0.85 | 2383 | 90.09 | 182 |
| New Zealand | Chris Gayle (WI) | 28 | 45 | 1.61 | 1026 | 90.71 | 102 |
| Zimbabwe | Chris Gayle (WI) | 30 | 45 | 1.5 | 1549 | 90.32 | 164 |
| England | Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 31 | 45 | 1.45 | 993 | 117.93 | 92 |
Read now: Most ODI Sixes in a Calendar Year by a Batsman
Key Insights on Most Maximums Hit Against a Single Opponent in One Day Internationals
Record-Setting Six-Hitting Feats in ODIs
Rohit Sharma holds the world record for the most sixes hit against a single opponent in ODIs, smashing a remarkable 93 maximums against Australia.
This feat eclipsed the previous record held by West Indies powerhouse Chris Gayle, who struck 85 sixes against England. Interestingly, Gayle remains the only player to hit 12 or more sixes against the same team (England) in more than one ODI innings – a testament to his explosive dominance. Find out which batter has the ODI record for hitting most sixes in a single ODI innings.
One such unforgettable innings came against England, where Gayle launched 14 towering sixes, a display of sheer power and precision that left fans in awe.
Shahid Afridi ranks third on the all-time list with 63 sixes against Sri Lanka.
50+ Sixes Against Multiple Teams
Shahid Afridi is the only player to have hit 50 or more sixes against three different sides: India (51 sixes), Sri Lanka (63 sixes), and New Zealand (50 sixes).
Rohit Sharma is the only other player to achieve the feat of hitting 50+ sixes against more than one team: Australia (93 sixes) and Sri Lanka (58 sixes).
Rohit Sharma’s dominance over the Aussies extends beyond sixes, as he also holds the second place for scoring the most runs against Australia in ODIs.
Overall Boundary Count Dominance
Sanath Jayasuriya holds the record for the most total boundary hits (Fours + Sixes) against a single opponent in the 50-overs format, compiling 376 boundaries against India.
This colossal boundary count is followed by Sachin Tendulkar, who hit 365 boundaries against Australia. The Indian little master is also the leading run-scorer against Australia in ODIs.
