Follow UsDespite featuring in 98 innings fewer, India’s Rohit Sharma smashed an all-time ODI record with his 352nd six, putting him past Shahid Afridi during the three-match ODI series against South Africa.
While none would have imagined Rohit breaking this record during the start of his ODI career, the Indian opener blossomed into a prolific six-hitter after being promoted as an opener. 327 of his 355 sixes have come as an opener, where he’s amassed close to 10,000 runs, averaging close to 60.
Across 14 encounters this year, Rohit has already smashed 24 sixes, showing how his form will not be a worry for the Men in Blue ahead of the ODI World Cup in 2027, where he will be close to 40. Afridi, who held the record for the longest time, applauded Rohit and insisted that he’s quite happy that Rohit broke his record.
“Records are meant to be broken and this too is now bettered. I am happy that a player I have always liked has broken this record..My record of the fastest century stood for nearly 18 years but it was finally broken. Records are set by one player and another comes and breaks them. This is cricket,” Afridi was quoted as saying by Telecom Asia Sport.
Incidentally, Rohit shared a dressing room with Afridi during the early days of IPL, when the two played in the same franchise – Deccan Chargers. While Rohit had already made his India debut by then, it was only after he was left out of the 2011 ODI World Cup he picked up a god-like form in the 50-over format.
“I played alongside Rohit for Deccan Chargers in my only IPL season. During practice, I watched him bat and his class impressed me. I knew he would one day play for India, and he has proved himself as a classy batter,” Afridi said.
India aren’t slated to play another ODI this year, with their next assignment on January 11 against New Zealand, where both Rohit and Kohli will be back in action.