Rohit Sharma, known for his exquisite timing rather than raw power, has achieved a remarkable feat in world cricket.
Although not traditionally labelled as a power hitter like some of his peers, Sharma has surpassed Chris Gayle, one of the most revered names in cricket, as the player with the most international sixes.
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How many sixes have Chris Gayle hit in his international career?
Gayle held the record for hitting most sixes before Rohit surpassed him, with 553 sixes in 483 international matches.
How many sixes has Rohit Sharma hit in his international career?
Rohit Sharma has an impressive tally of 555 sixes in international cricket, placing him top of the list, above Chris Gayle.
The Indian skipper has hit 296 sixes in ODIs, 182 in T20Is and another 77 in Tests which takes his total tally to 551.
| Format | Sixes |
| Test | 77 |
| ODI | 296 |
| T20I | 182 |
| Total | 554 |
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Players with most sixes in international cricket
| Player | Team | Sixes |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 555 |
| Chris Gayle | West Indies | 553 |
| Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 476 |
| Brendon McCullum | New Zealand | 398 |
| Martin Guptill | New Zealand | 383 |
What did Rohit Sharma say about being on the verge of breaking Chris Gayle’s record?
“It will be a unique record for sure. Never in my life would I have imagined that I would be the one to break Chris Gayle’s record. It is funny. I am not a muscle person but I like hitting the ball hard,” he told journalist Vimal Kumar during a chat on his YouTube channel.
However, Sharma’s cricketing journey began with a strong emphasis on the fundamentals. During his formative years, he adhered to protocols set by coaches, which were aligned with the “Khadoos” Mumbai school of cricket mentality which prioritized timing and precision over power-hitting.
Moreover, the fear of injuring someone with an aerial shot discouraged them from attempting big hits. Instead, they honed their skills by keeping the ball along the ground.
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“When I started playing cricket, we were told to time the ball. The aerial shots we play we were asked to cut them down. We used to practice in school so there was no chance of hitting the ball in the air because that could have hit someone.
“We didn’t have nets back then so we used to play the ball along the ground all the time. That’s how the basics began, time the ball, come in the line of the ball, keep your head still. We would be chucked out of nets if we hit along the air,” he added.
But look how that has turned out for Rohit Sharma, set to be the greatest six-hitter in the history of the game soon.
