Sixes are an integral part of ODI cricket, and their importance in the modern game has grown only further. It acts not only as an opportunity for a batsman to accumulate runs quickly but also has a strong impact on the opposition bowlers, both physically and mentally.
Batsmen who can consistently clear the boundary with sixes coupled with their ability to play long innings are considered valuable assets to their teams, as they can dictate the course of the match and help achieve success in the format. With the way the game is progressing nowadays, the attack has become the best form of defence. India consistently looks to transform their game according to demand, and their batters have been successful in doing so.
So here we will look at the top 10 batters with the most number of sixes in the ODI format.
Most Sixes for India in ODIs
| Player | Innings | 6s |
|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 265 | 344 |
| Mahendra Singh Dhoni | 294 | 222 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 452 | 195 |
| Sourav Ganguly | 297 | 189 |
| Yuvraj Singh | 275 | 153 |
| Virat Kohli | 290 | 152 |
| Virender Sehwag | 235 | 131 |
| Suresh Raina | 194 | 120 |
| Ajay Jadeja | 179 | 85 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 164 | 79 |
Key insights from the above stats
2: The number of batters from India to have hit 200 or more sixes in ODI cricket, and 3 other Indians have crossed the 150-sixes mark. Overall, 8 batters have hit 100 or more sixes for India in the ODI format.
300: As expected, the current across all formats of the game.
200: MS Dhoni is the second batter who has hit more than 200 sixes for India in ODI format. Known as one of the best finishers in the history of the game, Dhoni was a powerful hitter of the ball, especially in his younger days. He used to hit maximums at will in ODIs when he started, and it became slowly subdued as his career went by, sending 222 balls out of the fence.
195: Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of sixes in ODI cricket. The champion batter was known as one of the most technically sound players ever, but he had this ability to clear the ropes at an opportune time. He is the highest run-scorer in the history of ODIs and has dominated the bowling attacks with his big hits from time to time. The batting maestro ended his ODI career with just 5 sixes shy of the 200 mark.
Also Read | Top 10: Most Runs for India in ODI
189: The number of ODI sixes smashed by Sachin Tendulkar’s long-time opening partner, Sourav Ganguly, in ODI cricket. As a left-handed batter, Ganguly’s drives and other boundary shots were so pleasing to the eye, but at the same time, he was known as someone who could dominate the spin attacks of the teams with his six-hitting range.
