Which Player has hit Most Sixes in ODI Cricket? Here is the Right Answer
Batters have gotten more aggressive in One Day International games since the introduction of T20s around the world. Flat pitches, heavier bats, and the regulation of two new balls from both ends have significantly diminished bowlers' influence in the 50-over game.
However, even before the age of T20s, there were a few batsmen who stole the show with spectacular hits. We look at the guys who have the most sixes in ODIs.
Shahid Afridi (Pakistan, 351 sixes)
In his best days, the Pakistani all-rounder was one of the most dangerous players, capable of running away with the game. Batting lower down the order, Afridi flipped games in his favour with some lusty strikes in the dying stages. Overall, the player, who appeared in 398 One Day Internationals between 1995 and 2015, hit 351 sixes in his career.
He also holds the unofficial record for the longest six in cricket (more than 158 metres). Afridi finished his career with 8064 runs at an average of just over 23 with 351 maximums and 730 fours.
Chris Gayle (West Indies, 331 sixes)
The Universe Boss is unquestionably a modern-day white-ball cricket legend. West Indies depended on Chris Gayle's aggressive hitting at the top of the order, and he did not disappoint.
Overall, he appeared in 301 One-Day Internationals for Jamaica, scoring 10480 runs at an average of 37.83. He also has a double century to his name, a 215-ball knock against Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup. In addition, the 41-year-old has 1128 fours in the format!
Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka, 270 sixes)
Before T20s became popular, it was Sri Lanka's opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya who did not hesitate to play his strokes in front of the best bowlers in the world. Sri Lanka, the 1996 World Cup champion, was driven by his refreshing desire to slap the ball from the first over, making the team a force to be reckoned with in the first decade of the century.
Jayasuriya, who played 445 ODIs, finished his career with 270 sixes, the third most in ODI history. He also had the fourth-highest total of 13430 runs in the format. In the 50-over game, the former Sri Lankan captain also hit 1500 fours.
Rohit Sharma (India, 244 sixes)
Rohit Sharma has the ability to go up the list if he continues to play for a few more years. Since being asked to start the innings at the 2013 Champions Trophy in England, the Indian opener has been a constant match-winner for the team.
Despite his slow start, Rohit has the capacity to accelerate at the end with some massive sixes all over the park. He has currently played 227 One-Day Internationals for the Men in Blue and has hit 244 sixes in the format. His current run total is 9205 runs, with an average of over 49.
Rohit also has the highest score by any ODI batsman – an innings of 264 that he played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata against Sri Lanka in 2014.
MS Dhoni (India, 229 sixes)
MS Dhoni's six that helped India win the World Cup after a 28-year drought in 2011 has earned its own place in history. However, those are not the only six things for which he is highly known.
In his prime, Dhoni was one of the best players of the helicopter shot, capable of knocking even the best New Yorkers out of the park.
Dhoni, regarded as one of the best finishers in the game, would frequently give India a victory with a last-ball six. He finished with 229 maximums and 826 fours from 350 ODI matches. In the format, he also scored 10773 runs at an average of about 51.
Eoin Morgan (England, 219 sixes)
The former English captain has revolutionised ODI cricket by encouraging his team and players to go all out for a win from the first ball. The team has had incredible success under his leadership, including winning the 2019 World Cup.
Morgan, too, has adopted an aggressive batting approach in recent years, and the fact that he leads the list of England's most sixes attests to his abilities. He has 219 maximums in 243 ODIs (he played 23 ODIs for Ireland from 2006 to 2009, with 18 sixes).
Morgan has scored 7620 international runs in 50-overs, with an average of 39.48 and a strike rate of 91.37.
AB de Villiers (South Africa, 204 sixes)
Without Mr 360-degrees, AB de Villiers, the list would be incomplete. The South African, noted for his ability to play shots from all around the pitch, was a great star for his country, and his unexpected retirement in 2018 left fans stunned.
Overall, the South African finished with 9577 runs in 228 ODIs, hitting 204 sixes, the seventh most in ODI history. He also holds the record for the fastest ODI hundred and 150.
Brendon McCullum (New Zealand, 200 sixes)
Brendon McCullum was another cricketer who impressed with his intent and style of play in both Tests and ODIs. When he got going, the former New Zealand wicket-keeper was unstoppable, and he frequently put his team in a dominating position by the time he was dismissed.
In his 260-match ODI career, he has struck 290 maximums. McCullum scored 6083 runs at a 30.41 average with a strike rate of over 96! The player holds the record for most maximums hit in the longer format of the game, with 107 in the Test format.
Sachin Tendulkar (India, 195 sixes)
Sachin Tendulkar played 463 One-Day Internationals for India, and while he was not the most prolific six-hitter, he did execute some jaw-dropping shots against some of the world's top bowlers.
Sachin made his debut in 1989 and went on to accomplish remarkable heights in his career, including accumulating 18426 runs in ODIs, the most by far by any player. In his career, he hit 195 sixes and as much as 2016 sixes, the most by any hitter in ODI cricket.
Sourav Ganguly (India, 190 sixes)
Sourav Ganguly, the fourth Indian on the list, has hit 190 maximums in his career, ranking him tenth in ODI history. Ganguly scored 11363 runs in 311 games in his 15-year ODI career, an average of more than 41.
Dada, as he is affectionately known, transformed the face of Indian cricket with his rough appearance and never-say-die attitude.
