Most Sixes in ODI

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

Key Insights on Prolific Six-Hitters in ODI Cricket

All-Time Leaders in ODI Maximums

Only four players have smashed 250-plus sixes in ODI cricket: Rohit Sharma, Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, and Sanath Jayasuriya.

Among the four, Rohit and Afridi are the only two with more than 350 maximums in 50-over cricket.

Here is a list of active cricketers with the most ODI sixes.

Top Indian Six-hitters in 50-Over Cricket

Rohit 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 eight 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 a 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 in ODIs

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 sixes = 102 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 sixth-fastest World Cup century ever, reaching his hundred off just 57 balls.

Morgan also holds the ODI record for hitting the most sixes playing as captain, having scored 147 while leading England.

Shahid Afridi’s Power Percentage in ODIs

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 in ODIs

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.

Read Next | Shortest Completed Test Matches