Shahid Afridi responded with praises and respect after Rohit Sharma broke his long-standing record for the most sixes in one-day international cricket. The former Pakistan captain looked back on the moment with pride and also shared personal memories of a young Rohit at the Deccan Chargers during the first IPL season. Afridi said he had sensed early that the Mumbai batter would become a special player.
Rohit passed Afridi’s mark of 351 sixes during India’s ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on November 30. Afridi had held the record for 15 years. His own career was filled with bold hitting and fearless strokes, but the new milestone belonged to Rohit.
Rohit needed only three sixes to overtake the record. He reached it with ease. A classic pull shot off Marco Jansen sent the ball deep into the stands. The JSCA Stadium erupted as the moment arrived.
Afridi praised Rohit with simple and heartfelt words. “I am happy that a player whom I have always liked has broken this record. During Deccan Chargers practice sessions, I watched him bat and his class impressed me. I knew that one day Rohit would play for India, and he has proved himself as a classy batter.”
Rohit and Afridi spent time together during the first IPL season. They played nine matches as teammates for the now-defunct Deccan Chargers. Rohit hit 19 sixes in those games and showed early signs of his power.
Before his IPL deal, Rohit had already impressed the cricket world. He was 20 years old in the 2007 T20 World Cup and scored 88 runs in four matches. His fifty against South Africa in a must-win game showed his calm mindset and talent under pressure.
The numbers underline the scale of the achievement. Rohit now has 355 sixes in 271 ODI innings. Afridi finished with 351 from 369 innings. The eras were different. Afridi played with bigger grounds, older bats and a more even contest between bat and ball. His hitting paved the way for modern white-ball cricket.
Rohit can push the record much higher. He plans to play the 2027 ODI World Cup. After stepping away from Test cricket, some wondered if he could handle the fitness demands of one format. He answered those doubts. He lost more than 10 kilograms and trained hard to stay ready for white-ball cricket.
Since his return to competitive action in October during India’s tour of Australia, Rohit has scored 348 runs in six matches. He has hit one hundred and three fifties. He looks sharp again, ready to claim his place in the next World Cup and extend a record that may stand for years.
