Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma scripted another glorious chapter in his illustrious white-ball career, achieving a monumental milestone that cemented his status as one of the game's most destructive batters. During the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi, the dynamic opener became the leading six-hitter in the history of One Day International cricket.
Historic Moment in Ranchi
The moment of glory arrived when Rohit Sharma pulled South African pacer Marco Jansen into the stands with his trademark short-arm power, sending the Ranchi crowd into a frenzy. This spectacular shot marked his 352nd six in ODI cricket, enabling him to surpass the long-standing record of Pakistani legend Shahid Afridi, who had held the top position with 351 maximums.
The historic achievement adds another glittering landmark to Rohit Sharma's remarkable ODI journey, reinforcing his reputation as one of the most entertaining and powerful strikers the game has ever witnessed. The updated list of top six-hitters now reads: Rohit Sharma (352*), Shahid Afridi (351), Chris Gayle (331), Sanath Jayasuriya (270), and MS Dhoni (229).
Consistent Performance Under Pressure
Beyond the six-hitting record, Rohit demonstrated his class and composure by notching up his 60th ODI half-century during the same innings. His knock of 57 runs was both smooth and commanding, perfectly blending precise timing and elegant placement with his natural clean hitting ability.
The Indian vice-captain continued his habit of delivering in high-pressure situations, treating the home crowd to a masterclass in controlled aggression before eventually falling lbw to Marco Jansen.
Kohli-Rohit Partnership Dominance
The match also showcased the formidable partnership between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, as the duo stitched together yet another century stand. This marked their 20th 100-run partnership in ODI cricket, placing them level with legendary Sri Lankan pair Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan on the all-time list.
Only the iconic Indian duo of Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly remain ahead with 26 century partnerships. What made this stand particularly impressive was the pace at which it developed - the pair reached the 100-run mark in just 85 deliveries, scoring freely against the South African bowling attack.
Individually, Virat Kohli continued to extend his dominance in home conditions. The former captain now has 59 ODI scores of fifty or more in India, the most by any batter in home conditions. Sachin Tendulkar follows closely with 58 such scores, highlighting Kohli's remarkable consistency throughout his career.
Rohit Sharma also entered this elite list with 37 fifty-plus scores in India, matching the tally of Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara, further emphasizing his significant contributions to Indian cricket in home conditions.
The first ODI in Ranchi will be remembered not just for the match result, but for Rohit Sharma's historic achievement that has redefined power-hitting in limited-overs cricket and established new benchmarks for generations to come.
