The modern era has completely rewritten the script for One Day International (ODI) cricket. Gone are the days when innings were built purely on boundaries and cautious accumulation. The influx of T20 cricket has fueled a revolution, turning ODI batting into an aggressive spectacle defined by raw power.
Today’s batsmen, inspired by masters like Chris Gayle, Rohit Sharma, and AB de Villiers, treat the 50-over game as an extended powerplay, constantly looking to clear the ropes. The relentless pursuit of the maximum has become the defining feature of the format.
This seismic shift leads to the ultimate question: In the entire history of the game, which player has smashed the most sixes in ODI cricket?
Most Sixes in ODI
| Players | Innings | Sixes | Sixes / Innings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shahid Afridi (PAK) | 369 | 351 | 0.95 |
| Rohit Sharma (IND) | 268 | 349 | 1.30 |
| Chris Gayle (WI) | 294 | 331 | 1.13 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 433 | 270 | 0.62 |
| MS Dhoni IND) | 297 | 229 | 0.77 |
| Eoin Morgan (ENG) | 230 | 220 | 0.96 |
| AB De Villiers (SA) | 218 | 204 | 0.94 |
| Brendon McCullum (NZ) | 228 | 200 | 0.87 |
| Sachin Tendulkar (IND) | 452 | 195 | 0.43 |
| Sourav Ganguly (IND) | 300 | 190 | 0.63 |
Key Insights on Prolific Six-Hitters in ODI Cricket
All-Time Leaders in ODI Maximums
Only 4 players have smashed 250+ sixes in ODI cricket: Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, Rohit Sharma, and Sanath Jayasuriya.
Afridi leads the chart with 351 big hits in 369 innings.
Here is a list of active cricketers with most ODI sixes.
Indian Batting Power in 50-Over Cricket
In the One Day International (50-over) format, Rohit Sharma is currently the second-highest six-hitter in history with over 340 sixes, closely chasing the world record held by former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi (351 sixes).
Sharma is the leading six-hitter across all international formats (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is), boasting a remarkable total of over 600 sixes.
The talent pool for big-hitting within the Indian team is deep. A total of 8 Indian batters have achieved the impressive feat of knocking over 100 sixes in the 50-over format. This elite list typically includes:
- Rohit Sharma (currently leading among Indians in this format)
- MS Dhoni (a former world leader in sixes and renowned finisher)
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Sourav Ganguly
- Yuvraj Singh
- Virender Sehwag
- Suresh Raina
- Virat Kohli (the 8th member to reach this milestone)
Eoin Morgan’s Record-Breaking Sixes
Eoin Morgan’s incredible knock of 148 runs off 71 balls against Afghanistan in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup is noteworthy for several reasons beyond just the 17 sixes he hit:
- World Record: His 17 maximums established a new world record for the most sixes in a single ODI innings, surpassing the previous joint record of 16 held by Rohit Sharma, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle.
- A Century in Sixes: Morgan scored 102 runs solely from sixes ($17 \text{ sixes} \times 6 \text{ runs/six} = 102 \text{ runs}$), a true testament to his explosive power.
- Team Record: England’s team total in that match finished with a collective 25 sixes, which was, at the time, the most sixes by a team in a single ODI innings.
- Speed: He also notched the fourth-fastest World Cup century ever, reaching his hundred off just 57 balls.
Shahid Afridi’s Power Percentage
Shahid Afridi’s career ODI statistics underscore his identity as a pure power-hitter, earning him the nickname “Boom Boom.”
Significant Proportion: The fact that over 26% of his career runs (2,106 out of 8,064) came from his 351 sixes confirms that boundary-hitting was fundamental to his scoring method.
Chris Gayle’s Second Innings Sixes
Chris Gayle’s split of sixes, with more than 50% coming in the second innings (177 out of his 331 career sixes), suggests a unique strategic approach or situational advantage:
- The Chase Effect: The higher percentage in the second innings might reflect Gayle’s calculated aggression when chasing a target, where the required run rate is known, allowing him to pace his boundary hitting accordingly.
- Career Context: Gayle is also one of the few players to have hit 16 sixes in an ODI innings (in his double century knock against Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup), which was the joint record until Morgan broke it. He is one of the all-time leaders in ODI sixes, cementing his status as the “Universe Boss” of power-hitting.
