Rohit Sharma goes past Pakistan's Shahid Afridi for new ODI world record, becomes greatest six-hitter in 50-over format

Rohit Sharma created a new world record on Sunday in Ranchi during the first ODI against South Africa as the former Indian captain went past Pakistan's Shahid Afridi for most international sixes in the 50-over format. Coming into the match with 349 sixes in ODIs, Rohit smashed Prenelan Subrayen for back-to-back maximums to go on level with Afridi.

The Indian opener rose to the top of the list with a pull shot for a maximum off Marco Jansen in the 20th over to add a new feather to his cap. Rohit was eventually dismissed for 57, trapped in front by Jansen. West Indies' Chris Gayle (331), Sanath Jayasuriya of Sri Lanka (270) and India's MS Dhoni (229) complete the top five.

Most international sixes in ODIs

Sent into bat first, Rohit continued his form with the bat from where he left in Sydney against Australia. Having being given a second chance by Tony de Zorzi when on one run, Rohit made most of the opportunity and slammed Jansen for a couple of boundaries in the seventh over.

Following the departure of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit along with Kohli resurrected the Indian innings with a hundred-plus stand, to take the game away from the South Africans. The Indian opener unleased his prowess in the 15th over with two back-to-back sixes to South Africa's off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen.

He eventually brought up his 60th ODI fifty in the 19th over. However, Rohit couldn't convert the fifty into a hundred as the right-hand batter lost his wicket to Jansen in the 22nd over, scoring 57 off 51 balls, including five boundaries and three sixes.

Virat Kohli's 52nd ODI ton powers India to 349/8

Riding on Kohli's 120-ball 135 and fifties from KL Rahul and Rohit helped India reach 349/8 in 50 overs. Kohli forged a 136-run stand with Rohit and the partnership was the engine room of India’s charge to a 300-plus total.

Kohli went past the three-figure mark with a boundary of South Africa left-arm pacer Marco Jansen, raising bedlam in the stadium, even forcing a spectator to invade the ground to touch the master’s feat.

Kohli also went past the legendary Sachin Tendulkar as the batter with most hundreds in one format of the game. Tendulkar has 51 Test hundreds, and Kohli now has 52 ODI tons.

Rohit too had his own moment when he smashed a world record 352nd six in ODI cricket to go past former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi’s mark of 351. KL Rahul gave a late thrust to the innings with a 56-ball 60.