In a momentous feat that adds another glittering chapter to his legendary career, Indian captain Rohit Sharma on Sunday, January 11, 2026, became the batsman with the most sixes in One Day International history while opening the innings. The 'Hitman' surpassed the iconic West Indian powerhouse, Chris Gayle, during the first ODI against New Zealand.
A Record-Shattering Maximum
The historic moment arrived in the seventh over of India's chase of 300 runs. Facing the tall New Zealand seamer Kyle Jamieson, Rohit Sharma displayed his trademark elegance and power. He danced down the track and launched the ball straight over mid-on for a colossal six. This maximum took his tally to 329 sixes as an ODI opener, moving one ahead of Gayle's previous record of 328.
What makes this achievement even more staggering is the sheer efficiency with which Rohit reached the milestone. He broke the record in just 191 innings, a remarkable 83 innings fewer than the 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle, who took 284 innings to set his benchmark.
Match Context and Milestone Innings
Rohit, opening alongside Shubman Gill, had started steadily in pursuit of New Zealand's 300-run target. He soon switched gears, hitting two sixes in his brief but impactful knock. The second of those was the record-breaking shot off Jamieson. However, the Kiwi bowler had the last laugh in the very same spell, dismissing the Indian skipper for 26 runs in the ninth over.
The match itself was set up by a fighting knock from New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell. The world number three ranked ODI batsman played a crucial innings of 84 runs off 71 balls, clobbering five fours and three sixes. His effort rescued the visitors after a solid opening stand of 117 runs between Devon Conway (56) and Henry Nicholls (62) was broken by India's Harshit Rana.
Where Rohit Stands in Pantheon of Greats
Rohit Sharma's latest record further cements his status as one of the most destructive openers the 50-over format has ever seen. The list of top six-hitters among openers now reads as a who's who of cricket's most feared batters.
- 329* - Rohit Sharma (India) in 191 innings
- 328 - Chris Gayle (West Indies) in 284 innings
- 263 - Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka) in 383 innings
- 174 - Martin Guptill (New Zealand) in 174 innings
- 167 - Sachin Tendulkar (India) in 340 innings
This achievement is yet another jewel in Rohit's crown, following a career filled with monumental records, including three double-centuries in ODI cricket. It underscores his unique blend of timing, power, and consistency that has redefined the role of an opener in modern limited-overs cricket.
