Rohit Sharma Set to Shatter Two Monumental Cricket Records
Indian cricket superstar Rohit Sharma stands on the brink of rewriting history books as Team India prepares to clash with South Africa in the opening ODI at Ranchi's JSCA International Stadium Complex on Sunday. The veteran opener, widely celebrated as one of the most destructive batsmen in limited-overs cricket, is tantalizingly close to claiming two of the game's most prestigious records.
The Six-Hitting Milestone
Rohit Sharma needs just three more sixes to become the most prolific six-hitter in ODI history. Currently positioned at 349 maximums, he trails Pakistan's legendary all-rounder Shahid Afridi by merely two hits. Afridi's record of 351 sixes has stood as the benchmark in 50-over cricket for years, but Rohit's consistent power-hitting has brought him to the verge of surpassing this landmark.
The statistics reveal the magnitude of this achievement. Once Rohit connects for his 352nd six, he will officially dethrone Afridi and claim the top spot on the all-time list. West Indies powerhouse Chris Gayle occupies third position with 331 sixes, followed by Sri Lankan great Sanath Jayasuriya (270) and former Indian captain MS Dhoni (229).
Approaching the 20,000-Run Club
Rohit's record-breaking pursuit doesn't end with six-hitting. The Indian captain is also poised to cross the monumental 20,000-run threshold in international cricket. Having accumulated 19,902 runs across all formats, he requires just 98 more runs to become only the fourth Indian batter to achieve this remarkable feat.
His current run distribution includes 4,301 runs in Test matches, 11,370 in ODIs, and 4,231 in T20 Internationals, compiled over 502 international appearances. This achievement would place him in an exclusive club alongside Indian batting legends Sachin Tendulkar (34,357 runs), Virat Kohli (27,673 runs), and Rahul Dravid (24,064 runs).
Return to ODI Action with Momentum
Rohit returns to the Indian squad riding high on confidence following his match-winning unbeaten 121 against Australia in Sydney, which prevented a series whitewash. Having retired from Test cricket earlier this year and stepped away from T20Is after the 2024 World Cup, the Hitman now focuses exclusively on ODI duties.
He will reunite with Virat Kohli, who has also transitioned to an ODI-only role for the national team. The experienced duo carries significant responsibility as India looks to bounce back from their recent 0-2 Test series defeat in South Africa and establish dominance in the 50-over format.
The stage is perfectly set in Ranchi for what could be a historic Sunday for Indian cricket, with Rohit Sharma potentially rewriting record books and cementing his legacy as one of the game's all-time greats.
