Most sixes in first 10 overs of ODIs
In One Day International (ODI) cricket, the art of hitting sixes has become something to watch out for, particularly in the crucial first 10 overs. Modern batters with innovative techniques and fearless mindsets, now dispatch the ball over the boundary at will, shattering records with each passing tournament. The white-ball format has witnessed a shift in batting approach, with teams prioritising aggressive play from the start.
On that note, here is a look at the top three batters to have hit the most sixes in the first 10 overs in ODIs.
3. Martin Guptill
Former New Zealand opener Martin Guptill was a six-hitting machine in ODI cricket. With 91 sixes, Guptill ranks third for most sixes in the first 10 overs in 50-over cricket. In 198 ODIs, he scored 7,346 runs at an average of 41.73 and a strike rate of 87.29. His memorable 237 against West Indies in 2015 included 11 sixes, placing him second for most runs from boundaries in an innings. As an opener, he’s fourth on the all-time sixes list with 174 maximums. The 37-year-old shares the record for third-most sixes (11) in a World Cup innings and ranks fifth for most sixes in a series (19 against Sri Lanka in 2019).
2. Rohit Sharma
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma is a brilliant hitter in ODIs and is known for hitting sixes at will. He stands second in the list of most sixes during the first 10 overs of ODIs and shares the second spot for most career ODI sixes with 331 maximums. As an opener, he jointly holds the record for most sixes in a single innings with 16 sixes and ranks second overall with 303 sixes. He dominates as a captain-opener with 108 sixes, the highest in this category. His World Cup performance is unmatched, having smashed the most sixes overall with 54 sixes and in a single edition with 31 sixes in the 2023 edition. He also claims the second spot for most sixes in a single ODI series which came against Australia in 2013 with 23 sixes.
1. Chris Gayle
Former West Indian opener, Chris Gayle’s name is synonymous with towering sixes in cricket. Known for his explosive batting, Gayle revolutionized the role of openers with his aggressive style. His presence at the crease often put opponents on the back foot, as he could single-handedly change the course of a game. Gayle’s ability to hit sixes is evident from his numerous records. He’s joint second in most ODI sixes with 331 sixes along and also shares the record for most sixes in a single ODI innings (16). As an opener, he holds the record for most sixes in ODIs which is 328 maximums. In World Cups, the left-hander is second in the most number of sixes hit, having smashed 49 sixes. He has also smashed 16 sixes in a single World Cup innings.
