Most Sixes in ODI International Cricket: The Ultimate Power Hitters (2026 Updated)
Cricket fans love nothing more than seeing the ball sail deep into the stands. Over the decades, One Day Internationals (ODIs) have given us some of the most destructive batters the game has ever seen. From Shahid Afridi’s raw muscle to Chris Gayle’s sheer power and Rohit Sharma’s effortless timing, clearing the boundary rope has truly become an art form.
If you are looking for the official leaderboard for the most sixes in ODI international cricket, you are in the right place.
The Hitman Rules the Roost
For 15 long years, Pakistan's Shahid Afridi held the crown for the most ODI sixes. That all changed in late 2025 when India's Rohit Sharma officially shattered the record.
Known for his devastating pull shot and lazy elegance, Rohit didn't just break the record—he achieved it in significantly fewer matches than his predecessors. Currently sitting at a staggering 383 maximums in just 293 games, Rohit is the undisputed king of white-ball power hitting and the only active player actively extending his lead at the top.
The All-Time Top 5 Leaderboard
Here is the officially verified ESPNcricinfo data for the batters with the most career sixes in the history of ODI cricket:
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Career Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Player | Team | Matches | Career Sixes |
| 1 | Rohit Sharma | India | 293 | 383 |
| 2 | Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | 398 | 351 |
| 3 | Chris Gayle | West Indies | 301 | 331 |
| 4 | Sanath Jayasuriya | Sri Lanka | 445 | 270 |
| 5 | MS Dhoni | India | 350 | 229 |
(Note: Statistics are fully updated as of 9 November 2026. Only three players in the history of the sport have crossed the monumental 300-six mark in the 50-over format.)
The Pioneers of Power
While Rohit Sharma leads the pack today, the foundation of modern power-hitting was laid by the legends trailing right behind him.
Shahid "Boom Boom" Afridi (351 Sixes): The Pakistani all-rounder was a terrifying prospect for bowlers throughout the late 90s and 2000s. What made Afridi special was his absolute lack of fear—he went after the bowling from ball one, relying on a heavy bat and lightning-fast hand speed to muscle the ball out of the park.
Chris Gayle (331 Sixes): The 'Universe Boss' needs no introduction. The Jamaican opener rarely relied on busy footwork; he simply stood tall at the crease, trusted his massive frame, and hit the ball miles into the stands with pure, unadulterated power.
The Trailblazers (Jayasuriya & Dhoni): Sitting just below the 300-club are Sanath Jayasuriya and MS Dhoni. Jayasuriya completely revolutionized ODI batting in the 1996 World Cup by lofting fast bowlers over the infield during the powerplay. MS Dhoni, on the other hand, is the only player in the top five who hit the vast majority of his 229 sixes while batting under extreme pressure in the lower-middle order, famous for finishing tight run-chases with his signature helicopter shot.
As modern bats get thicker and batters continue to adopt aggressive T20 mentalities, we might see new names eventually climb this list over the next decade. But for now, the "Hitman" sits completely unchallenged at the summit.
