Rohit Sharma has become the leading six-hitter against New Zealand in ODI cricket. His two sixes during an innings of 23 off 28 balls in Wellington lifted his tally to 51, one clear of Shahid Afridi's 50. The milestone adds to his overall ODI sixes record of 383.
Rohit Sharma's Record: The Key Numbers
Rohit's 23 came off 28 balls in the second ODI at Wellington on November 7. The innings included two sixes and two fours, and ended when Kyle Jamieson dismissed him.
The two sixes took him from 49 to 51 against New Zealand. That moved him past the previous best of 50, held by Pakistan's Shahid Afridi.
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Runs scored in the innings | 23 |
| Balls faced | 28 |
| Strike rate | 82.14 |
| Sixes | 2 |
| Fours | 2 |
| Runs from boundaries | 20 (about 87% of the total) |
| Career sixes vs New Zealand | 51 |
Boundary-Heavy Scoring Profile
Twenty of Rohit's 23 runs came from four boundaries. That is roughly 87% of his score from fours and sixes.
The strike rate of 82.14 was modest by his standards, but the boundary share shows how his innings were built around clearing the ropes.
Top Six-Hitters Against New Zealand in ODIs
Rohit now leads a short list of some of the most destructive ODI batters. The gap at the top is narrow, but it widens quickly further down.
Gaps Between the Leaders
Rohit leads Afridi by one six, Chris Gayle by six and Sanath Jayasuriya by ten. The top two are separated by a single six, while the third-placed Gayle sits five behind Afridi.
The list brings together an Indian opener, a Pakistani all-rounder, a West Indian opener and a former Sri Lanka captain. All four were known for aggressive starts or big hitting.
Efficiency Analysis: Sixes Per Match and Per Innings
Rohit has played 36 ODIs against New Zealand and batted in 34 innings. Those figures allow a simple rate comparison with his wider career.
| Measure | Matches | Sixes | Sixes per match |
|---|
| Against New Zealand | 36 | 51 | 1.42 |
| Overall ODI career | 293 | 383 | 1.31 |
Against New Zealand he averages about 1.42 sixes per match and 1.50 per innings (51 in 34). His career rate across all ODIs is about 1.31 per match.
Share of Career Sixes
The 51 sixes against New Zealand account for roughly 13.3% of his 383 career ODI sixes. That is a sizeable share from a single opponent, drawn from about 12.3% of his 293 matches.
The comparison suggests his scoring rate in sixes against New Zealand has been slightly above his career norm.
Match Context: Second ODI in Wellington
Rohit's innings came while India were chasing, with Kyle Jamieson among the New Zealand bowlers. India went into the match leading the series 2-0.
The series was already secured before this game, so the contest was a chance to extend that lead. The individual record is the main statistical takeaway from Rohit's modest score.
What the Record Tells Us
The record does not rest on one big innings. It reflects consistent six-hitting across 34 innings over a long period.
With 383 career sixes, Rohit also remains the all-time leader in ODI cricket. The Wellington milestone extends his lead in a category where his output has stayed steady across opponents.
Key Takeaways
- Rohit Sharma has 51 ODI sixes against New Zealand, one more than Shahid Afridi's 50.
- He hit two sixes and two fours in his 23 off 28 balls at Wellington.
- His rate of 1.42 sixes per match against New Zealand is above his career rate of 1.31.
- He holds the overall ODI record with 383 sixes in 293 matches.