ODI cricket has changed completely since T20 cricket was introduced. Teams and batters are now taking more risks to score quick runs in the given time. There was a time when hitting five or six sixes in an ODI inning was considered a big achievement for a batter.
But the time has changed, and batters back themselves to hit 3 or 4 sixes in one over in the game. The record for the most sixes by a batter in an ODI innings is held by former English captain Eoin Morgan. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma is second on the list. So, let’s check out this elite list in ODI innings.
Most Sixes in an ODI Match
| Batter | Score | Balls | 6s | 4s | Vs | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eoin Morgan (ENG) | 148 | 71 | 17 | 4 | Afghanistan | Manchester | 18 Jun 2019 |
| Rohit Sharma (IND) | 209 | 158 | 16 | 12 | Australia | Bengaluru | 02 Nov 2013 |
| AB de Villiers (SA) | 149 | 44 | 16 | 9 | West Indies | Johannesburg | 18 Jan 2015 |
| Chris Gayle (WI) | 215 | 147 | 16 | 10 | Zimbabwe | Canberra | 24 Feb 2015 |
| Jaskaran Malhotra (USA) | 173* | 124 | 16 | 4 | P.N.G. | Al Amerat | 09 Sep 2021 |
| Shane Watson (AUS) | 185 | 96 | 15 | 15 | Bangladesh | Mirpur | 11 Apr 2011 |
| Corey Anderson (NZ) | 131 | 47 | 14 | 6 | West Indies | Queenstown | 01 Jan 2014 |
| Chris Gayle (WI) | 162 | 97 | 14 | 11 | England | St George’s | 27 Feb 2019 |
| Jos Buttler (ENG) | 162 | 70 | 14 | 7 | Netherlands | Amstelveen | 17 Jun 2022 |
| Thisara Perera (SL) | 140 | 74 | 13 | 8 | New Zealand | Mount Maunganui | 05 Jan 2019 |
5. Jaskaran Malhotra (USA) – 16 Sixes
Jaskaran Malhotra from USA has hit the joint-second-most sixes in an ODI inning. He did it when USA took on Papua New Guinea in September 2021 in Al Amerat. Batting first, the USA scored 271/9, courtesy of Malhotra’s superb 173 not out from 124 balls. He smashed 16 centuries and four boundaries. USA dismissed the opposition at 137 runs and won by 134.
4. Chris Gayle (WI) – 16 Sixes
There are not many players who can hit big sixes like Chris Gayle. He is also another batter with 16 sixes in an inning. He did it when he smashed 215 against Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup in Canberra. Gayle scored 215 off just 147 balls, with 16 sixes and ten fours. West Indies made 372/2 and dismissed Zimbabwe for 289 to win by 73 runs (DLS method).
3. AB de Villiers (SA) – 16 Sixes
AB de Villiers was one of the first batters to play like no other batter in history. He recorded the fastest ODI fifty and hundred in the same innings against West Indies Johannesburg in January 2015. De Villiers reached fifty off 16 balls and his hundred off 31 balls. He made 149 off 44 balls, with nine fours and 16 sixes. South Africa made 439/2 and restricted the West Indies to 291/7 to win by 148 runs.
2. Rohit Sharma (IND) – 16 sixes
When it comes to hitting sixes, Rohit Sharma can outperform many players in the world. He has three ODI double centuries for his team. He scored his second ODI double century against Australia in Bengaluru in November 2013. Rohit scored 209 off 158 balls, with 12 fours and 16 sixes. India made 383/6, Australia got all out for 326 runs, and India won by 57 runs.
1. Eoin Morgan (ENG) – 17 sixes
Eoin Morgan holds the record for most sixes in an inning. The former English captain hit 17 sixes and four boundaries against Afghanistan in the 2019 World Cup in Manchester. He scored 148 off 71 balls at a strike rate of 208.45. England made 397/6 and stopped Afghanistan at 247/8 to win by 150 runs.
So, what do you think? Can anyone break Morgan’s record?