Top 10 Cricketers With Most Sixes in ODI – Update 2025

In modern-day cricket, six-hitting has been much easier with shorter boundaries and easier batting wickets. In previous times, it was much more difficult to hit sixes as the quality of the pitches was different, and the boundaries were also a lot longer. The fans enjoy every moment of their favourite batter hitting a big shot, as it is always pleasing to the eye for any spectator.

Hitting sixes in ODI cricket has been one of the game’s most enjoyable things to watch for fans and experts. From the late 1990s, the format saw some big hitters evolve into the game, and they have managed to score massive runs with their big-hitting skills towards the business end of the innings. Some modern names, along with some veterans, have been involved in the race for the most sixes in ODI cricket. In this article, we dive into the top 10 cricketers with the Most ODI Sixes.

How We Ranked The Most Sixes in ODI - Ranking Factors

As the game of cricket is evolving over time, batsmen are finding the skill of six-hitting quite an easy one than before. We have ranked the cricketers with the most sixes in ODIs based on some ranking factors to rank fairly and accurately. The ranking factors follow as:

• Total Sixes Hit: The total sixes hit is the total number of sixes smashed by the batsman in his ODI career, which is the main factor to rank the players, where a more number of sixes will be ranked higher than a lesser number of sixes. This shows the hitting ability of the player and smashes the ball out of the park.
• Sixes per Innings Ratio: The sixes per innings ratio shows the frequency of the player hitting sixes. It helps in understanding the number of times a player hits sixes in an innings. This shows the consistency of the player in hitting sixes and continues the hitting abilities throughout all matches.
• Strike Rate: The strike rate is the measure of how quickly the player scores runs in the match, and a high strike rate supports aggressive intent and frequent six-hitting of the player, which remains constant throughout his ODI career.
• Opposition Strength: The opposition strength helps in understanding the cricket skills of the player, that he is capable enough to smash the ball against the tough opposition, which usually gives tough competition and doesn't give a chance to hit many sixes against them. While the sixes hit by the player against top-quality bowling sides add more weight.
• Boundary-to-Ball Ratio: The boundary-to-ball ratio is the number of balls taken by the player to hit a boundary. This indicates the frequency of sixes relative to balls faced, e.g., 1 six every 10 balls, which shows how less balls are taken by the batsman to hit a six.
• Match Impact / Situation: The match impact or situation tells the overall impact created by the player's six hitting, where those sixes created a difference in the match and made a match-winning impact. The value of sixes goes up if sixes changed the match or were hit in pressure moments, like during a run chase or death overs.
• Number of Matches Played: The number of matches played by the player shows the ODI career of the player, where he has played a more number of matches or not. It helps adjust for longevity and impact, where more sixes in fewer matches are considered to be better.
• Tournament Stage & Format: The tournament stage and format of the game show that the player has the ability to hit sixes in the big stages like the World Cup, ICC events, or finals, which matter more than group or bilateral games. This tells the player's ability to play under pressure and perform well in that.
• Venue Size & Conditions: The venue size and conditions of the match determine the number of sixes hit by the player, where sometimes the size of the ground is smaller and conditions are favourable to batsmen, which allows them to hit sixes easily and improve their overall stats. Sixes hit by the player on large grounds or in tough batting conditions carry more weight.
• Sixes Against Top Bowlers: Sixes against top bowlers are more valued than hitting against weak or inexperienced bowlers of the opposition. The hitting sixes off elite bowlers (e.g., Bumrah, Starc, Rashid) reflects skill and aggression, which tells the overall skills of the batsman.

Most sixes in ODI international cricket - Updated List

In today's time, most of the matches in cricket are full of sixes, which shows the ability of the batsmen around the globe to smash the ball out of the park. Here is the list of the top 10 cricketers with the most sixes in ODI international cricket, which includes big names like Rohit Sharma, Chris Gayle, and many more.

Who hit the most sixes in ODI?

The six-hitting ability was considered to be extraordinary in past years of cricket, but as the game of cricket progresses, the ability of the player to smash the ball efficiently has increased. Here are the players with the most ODI sixes.

10. Sourav Ganguly (India)

The former India captain has been an out-and-out elegant left-hander. The ‘God of Offside’ was known for clinical technique and stroke play. Sourav Ganguly also had the prowess of hitting sixes against the spinners. His 183 against Sri Lanka remains the highest-ever individual score by an Indian in a World Cup game. He was sensational in that innings and hit some massive sixes to Muthiah Muralidaran.

Ganguly has hit 190 sixes in 311 ODIs in his career. Throughout his career, he had the upper hand on the spinners. Sourav Ganguly has scored 11,363 runs, which is the third-highest by any Indian batter in the 50-over format. He is also the fourth-highest Indian to hit the most sixes in ODI format.

9. Sachin Tendulkar (India)

Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar was god gifted. He changed the dynamics of Indian cricket. Every other person from the 1990s era to the early 2000s started playing cricket and idolised him. Tendulkar was known for his run-scoring ability and has the most runs in international cricket. He was more of a ground-stroke maker than someone looking for big hits.

But his standing and delivering sixes to pacers was a treat to watch for the fans and the young cricketers. He has delivered 195 sixes in his career of 463 ODIs for the Men in Blue. He is an absolute legend of the game.

8. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)

Brendon McCullum changed the dynamics of playing the Pacers and in the powerplay. He remains one of the most aggressive batters in world cricket. The former Kiwi captain danced down the track and attacked the pacers like no other batter. McCullum is currently the coach of the England team, and he has also implemented his aggressive playing style within the team in both red ball and white ball formats.

McCullum has always entertained the fans with his batting prowess. He is the only Kiwi batter in the list with the most sixes in ODIs. The former Kiwi batter has hit 200 sixes in ODIs in 260 games for the Black Caps. He has also hit 107 sixes in test cricket.

7. AB de Villiers (South Africa)

AB de Villiers is one of the finest cricketers of this generation. The former South African skipper is one of the most innovative and explosive batters in the history of cricket. Known for his unorthodox approach and combined flexibility across all formats of the game. He was a nightmare for bowlers. He dominated the white ball cricket like no one during his prime time.

De Villiers is one of the unluckiest players in the history of the game. He has never won any major silverware throughout his career. However, he has smashed 204 sixes, featuring in 228 ODIs for the Proteas. In his ODI career, he scored 9577 runs at an average of 53.51, including 25 centuries and 53 half-centuries.

6. Eoin Morgan (England)

Eoin Morgan is the World Cup-winning captain. He led the side with their only 50-over World Cup silverware in 2019. Morgan led the side brilliantly in the competition. He holds the special record of smashing the most sixes in an innings. He hit 17 sixes in an innings in the 2019 ICC World Cup against Afghanistan. He was known for his unique style of batting.

Morgan is the only English cricketer with the most sixes in ODIs. He has smashed 220 sixes in his career, featuring in 230 innings. This takes his six-hitting ratio to almost 1:1. It also matches with Brendon McCullum and AB de Villiers.

5. MS Dhoni (India)

MS Dhoni is the most successful captain of India and the world as well. He is the only captain to win all the ICC Trophies. It is a remarkable achievement for any captain. Dhoni made his name in international cricket with his long hair and explosive batting towards the end of the innings. The former India skipper was known as the best finisher in world cricket.

MS Dhoni, known for his calm and composed nature, has won many matches for India with the bat in crunch situations. He was named ‘Captain Cool’ because of his ability to stay calm and collected under pressure.

4. Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)

Sanath Jayasuriya was known as the explosive opener of his generation. Sanath Jayasuriya changed the dynamics of opening in One-Day Cricket alongside his opening partner Romesh Kaluwitharana. Both of them are credited for changing the one-day international cricket dynamics with their blazing batting in the mid-1990s.

His own aggressive game remained and dominated the bowlers in limited-overs cricket. The Southpaw has hit 270 sixes in 433 innings for the Lankan Lions. Currently, he is the head coach of Sri Lanka and has been doing well with the new team.

3. Chris Gayle (West Indies)

Chris Gayle is known as the ‘Universe Boss’. The former West Indies opener was known for his aggressive batting style and was a nightmare for any bowler. He has the record for smashing most hundreds in the T20 format of the game. He has 22 hundred in his career. This showcases his destructive batting approach. Gayle with his big muscular biceps used to hit humongous sixes without any problems.

The former Windies skipper has smacked 331 sixes in 301 games for the Caribbean nation. He has scored 10480 runs in the ODI format. He lists in the third for most sixes in ODI cricket. The flamboyant style and power that terrified the bowlers earned him the title ‘Universe Boss.’

2. Rohit Sharma (India)

Rohit Sharma is one of the most elegant batters of all time. The team India captain has been one of the sweetest timers of the ball. His hand and eye coordination make him different from the rest of the cricketers across the world. While he plays, it looks like he has more time than any other batter to play the ball so perfectly. Since he started opening in 2013, he has been a completely different batter.

The 37-year-old batter is the only active cricketer in the list for the most sixes in ODI cricket. Rohit has hit 338 sixes in 261 innings for the Men in Blue. He recently completed his 11,000 ODI runs against Bangladesh in the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy. He became the fourth Indian batter to achieve the milestone. He is just a few sixes away to the up for the most sixes in the ODI.

1. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Shahid Afridi started his career as an opener. He was one of the most destructive batters of his time. Known for his fearless approach, which often left the fans in awe and bowlers in doubt. Afridi was not only known for his batting but was also a brilliant leg spinner. He is the third-highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in the 50-over format of the game.

Afridi was later shifted to the finisher role for the Men in Green. He had the record for the fastest hundred in ODI cricket, in 37 balls, which was later broken by AB de Villiers, who scored one in 31 balls. In his 398 ODI career, he has smacked 351 sixes and stands atop with the most sixes in ODI cricket.