Full List of Players with Most Sixes in ODI Cricket

In One Day Internationals (ODIs), a “six” — hitting the ball over the boundary without it touching the ground — is among the most exciting and impactful feats a batsman can accomplish. A high tally of sixes often reflects a player’s power, timing, game sense, and ability to dominate bowling attacks, especially under pressure.

Tracking which batsmen have hit the most sixes in ODI cricket history allows cricket fans and analysts to appreciate who consistently delivered “big-hit value,” reshaped innings, changed match momentum, and entertained fans across eras. As batting styles evolve and ODIs become more dynamic, power-hitting remains a major differentiator — and the names on the all-time six list are part of cricketing legacy.

All-Time Leaders — Who Has Hit the Most Sixes in ODI History

As of late 2025, recent updates have reshuffled the top of the six-hitters list, reflecting both ongoing careers and historical impact.

Here are the leading players with the most sixes in ODI cricket:

Rank	Player	Country	6s	Mat	Inn
1	Rohit Sharma	India	352	277	269
2	Shahid Afridi	Pakistan	351	398	369
3	Chris Gayle	West Indies	331	301	294
4	Sanath Jayasuriya	Sri Lanka	270	445	433
5	MS Dhoni	India	229	350	297
6	Eoin Morgan	England	220	248	230
7	AB de Villiers	South Africa	204	228	218
8	Brendon McCullum	New Zealand	200	260	228
9	Sachin Tendulkar	India	195	463	452
10	Sourav Ganguly	India	190	311	300
11	Martin Guptill	New Zealand	187	198	195
12	Jos Buttler	England	182	196	169
13	Ricky Ponting	Australia	162	375	365
14	Virat Kohli	India	159	306	294
15	Glenn Maxwell	Australia	155	149	136

Rohit Sharma (India)

Rohit Sharma tops the ODI six-hitting charts with unmatched timing and effortless power. Known for converting starts into mammoth scores, he dominates both pace and spin with clean strikes. His ability to accelerate rapidly and his record three ODI double centuries make him one of cricket’s most devastating limited-overs batters.

Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Shahid “Boom Boom” Afridi redefined fearless batting with explosive stroke play and quick-fire cameos. His aggressive mindset, massive six-hitting range, and long career helped him accumulate hundreds of towering hits. Afridi’s unpredictability, rapid scoring, and match-winning knocks made him one of the most entertaining ODI cricketers of his generation.

Chris Gayle (West Indies)

Chris “Universe Boss” Gayle combined brute force with remarkable bat speed to dominate bowlers globally. Known for gigantic sixes that often cleared stadiums, Gayle’s laid-back yet destructive batting style produced countless match-defining innings. His raw strength and T20 influence translated seamlessly into ODIs, making him a legendary power-hitter.

Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)

Sanath Jayasuriya revolutionised ODI batting in the 1990s with aggressive starts and fearless lofted shots. His ability to demolish opening bowlers transformed Sri Lanka’s cricketing identity. A master of improvisation, Jayasuriya’s explosive stroke play, especially square-cut and slog sweep, contributed massively to his record tally of ODI sixes.

MS Dhoni (India)

MS Dhoni, one of cricket’s greatest finishers, built a reputation for calm aggression and powerful bottom-handed strikes. His helicopter shot became iconic worldwide. Dhoni’s tactical intelligence, combined with his ability to clear boundaries at will in tense situations, made him a match-winner and a dominant ODI six-hitter.

Eoin Morgan (England)

Eoin Morgan played a pivotal role in modernising England’s white-ball cricket. His fearless attitude, innovative hitting angles, and clinical boundary-hitting ability saw him smash numerous sixes in pressure situations. As a captain and batter, Morgan’s aggressive intent transformed England into a world-class white-ball powerhouse.

AB de Villiers (South Africa)

AB de Villiers, known as “Mr. 360,” changed ODI batting with his unorthodox stroke play and incredible athleticism. He blended finesse with sheer power, hitting massive sixes to all parts of the ground. His ability to switch gears instantly made him one of the most dangerous ODI batters ever.

Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

Brendon McCullum brought relentless aggression as an opener, often attacking from the first ball. His fearless approach, innovative shots, and clean hitting thrilled fans worldwide. McCullum’s quick scoring and high strike rate helped New Zealand set new white-ball standards, with six-hitting being a core part of his batting identity.

Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Sachin Tendulkar combined technical mastery with elegant stroke play, including powerful lofted shots that cleared boundaries with ease. While known more for consistency than brute force, Sachin still amassed a remarkable number of sixes. His adaptability across conditions and eras made him one of ODI cricket’s most complete batters.

Sourav Ganguly (India)

Sourav Ganguly, one of India’s greatest ODI openers, excelled with his graceful yet powerful off-side play and majestic lofted shots. His strong wrists allowed him to clear long boundaries effortlessly. Ganguly’s aggressive intent at the top of the order laid the foundation for many iconic Indian ODI victories.

Quick Highlights from the Top Six-Hitters

• Rohit Sharma’s 352 sixes puts him at the top as the batsman with the most sixes in ODI history, a record he updated in 2025.
• Former record-holder Shahid Afridi remains a legend of power-hitting, with 351 sixes from a career spanning nearly two decades.
• Chris Gayle and Sanath Jayasuriya — with 331 and 270 sixes respectively — were pioneers of aggressive opening batting, often turning the tide of innings early.
• Finishers like MS Dhoni brought calm, yet explosive power to the middle-late overs, proving that six-hitting isn’t only about attacking from the start.
• The diversity of eras and playing styles among the top-10 list shows the enduring value of six-hitting, whether in “timed-powerplay” days or the modern high-pressure ODI environment.

How the Six-Hitting Trend Evolved Over Time?

Cricket — especially ODI cricket — has evolved drastically over decades: pitch conditions, bat technology, fielding restrictions, power-play rules, and aggressive batting philosophies have all influenced how batsmen hit sixes.

• Old-school aggression: Players like Jayasuriya and Afridi represented early phases when aggressive batting was still a novelty; their sixes often came against traditional fast-spin bowling gambits.
• Modern era power-hitting: Later, batsmen like Rohit Sharma and Chris Gayle combined timing, strength, and innovative shot-selection to dominate, aided by flatter pitches and shorter boundaries.
• Versatile batting roles: While openers and power-hitters dominated early numbers, finishers (e.g. Dhoni), middle-order batsmen (e.g. de Villiers, Morgan), and adaptable stroke-makers added depth to six-hitting potential across all overs.

Thus, tracking “most sixes in ODI cricket” across eras also reflects the transformation of the 50-over format — from consolidation to high-octane aggression.

Conclusion

The list of players with the Most Sixes in ODI Cricket is a tribute to power-hitting excellence, consistency, and evolution. From fireworks-loving legends like Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle and Sanath Jayasuriya, to dynamic finishers like MS Dhoni, and modern greats like Rohit Sharma — each entry on the list tells a story of power, timing, audacity and adaptation.

Today, Rohit Sharma sits atop the list with 352 sixes, but history shows no sixes record is forever — as long as cricket evolves, batsmen will keep leaping, hitting, and rewriting the record books.

For fans, analysts, and aspiring cricketers, this list is a benchmark — a celebration of what’s been achieved and a challenge for what could come next in ODI cricket’s ever-dynamic journey.

FAQs

Who has hit the most sixes in ODI cricket?

As of 2025, Rohit Sharma holds the record for the most sixes in ODI cricket with 352 sixes, surpassing Shahid Afridi and Chris Gayle. His power-hitting and consistency make him the top six-hitter in history.

Which players are known for the most explosive six-hitting in ODIs?

Shahid Afridi, Chris Gayle, Sanath Jayasuriya, MS Dhoni, and AB de Villiers are among the most explosive ODI six-hitters. They consistently changed match momentum with fearless batting.

Does six-hitting depend on batting position?

Openers often hit more sixes because they face more balls, but middle-order batsmen like MS Dhoni, AB de Villiers, and Eoin Morgan have proven that finishers can also dominate six-hitting charts.

How has ODI six-hitting evolved over time?

Modern bats and favorable pitch conditions have transformed ODI batting. Today’s players hit more sixes due to powerplay rules, fitness levels, shot innovation, and aggressive strategies compared to earlier eras.

Which Indian players rank among the top six-hitters in ODIs?

India has several names on the list, including Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, and Virat Kohli — all of whom contributed significantly to India’s ODI powerhouse status.

Can current players break the ODI sixes record in the future?

Yes. With ODI cricket becoming more aggressive, players like Glenn Maxwell, Jos Buttler, and Virat Kohli have the potential to climb higher. Records change quickly as hitting power and strike rates increase.

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