Rohit Sharma’s Record-Breaking Sixes: A Page from Chris Gayle’s Playbook
Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma achieved a remarkable feat on Wednesday, surpassing West Indian cricket legend Chris Gayle’s record for the most sixes in international cricket. During India’s emphatic victory over Afghanistan, Rohit scored a breathtaking 131 runs off 84 balls, breaking the record held by Gayle.
The momentous milestone occurred when Rohit Sharma smashed his 554th international six, overtaking Chris Gayle’s previous record of 553 sixes across 483 international matches. Remarkably, Sharma accomplished this feat in just 473 innings, delivering a total of 556 sixes across all formats of international cricket, including 297 sixes in ODIs, 182 in T20Is, and 77 in Test matches.
The record-breaking six was struck off a delivery from Afghanistan’s Naveen Ul-Haq, shortly after Rohit Sharma had reached his half-century. In a post-match interview with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Rohit expressed his gratitude and shared his journey of hard work and dedication that led to this incredible achievement.
“When I started playing this game, I never thought I’d be able to hit sixes, let alone that many sixes. But I never thought I’d be able to hit sixes like that. Obviously, there’s a lot of work that has gone in over the years. So, I’m quite happy with the work that I’ve done, you know, in so many years.”
He further emphasized his commitment to continuing his exemplary performance, maintaining that this was a “very small happy moment” in his illustrious career.
Rohit Sharma also took a moment to acknowledge the influence of Chris Gayle on his own career. He stated that he had drawn inspiration from Gayle, recognizing him as a “six-hitting machine” and referring to him as the “Universe boss.” Both players share the same jersey number, 45, which added a personal touch to the achievement.
“Universe boss is Universe boss. I’ve taken a leaf out of his book over the years. We’ve seen him as a six-hitting machine. We both wear the same jersey, number 45. So the number 45 has done it, so I’m sure he’s happy about it for us.”
The match against Afghanistan on Wednesday was a resounding victory for the Indian cricket team. Chasing a target of 273 runs, India achieved the victory with a whopping 15 overs to spare, securing an 8-wicket win at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Rohit Sharma played a pivotal role in this triumph, delivering a match-winning performance with his exceptional 131 off 84 balls. His brilliant innings included five sixes and 16 fours, and he reached his century in just 63 balls, marking the fastest century by an Indian batsman in a World Cup game. For his outstanding display, Rohit Sharma was rightfully awarded the Player of the Match.
As the cricketing world celebrates Rohit Sharma’s remarkable achievement and the dazzling victory against Afghanistan, the Indian captain’s dedication, talent, and the inspiration he has drawn from legendary figures like Chris Gayle continues to shine through in the world of international cricket.
