Cutack (Odisha) [India], February 9 (ANI): The moment India captain Rohit Sharma found his rhythm, he didn't delay in surpassing the record of his former West Indies counterpart Chris Gayle for the second-highest number of sixes in ODIs.
During the ongoing second ODI match between India and England in Cuttack on Sunday, Rohit finally displayed signs of his performances returning to their earlier form. It was a batting-optimized venue in Cuttack, and the experienced opener made the most of the conditions during India's pursuit of a 305-run target.
Until the 22nd over, Rohit's count of sixes in ODIs stood at 336, surpassing Gayle's record of 331. Former Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi holds the record for the most sixes in ODIs. Famous for his raw power, Afridi had smashed 351 sixes in ODIs.
Former Sri Lanka batter Sanath Jayasuriya dropped to fourth place with 270 sixes in ODIs. Former India captain MS Dhoni rose to fifth spot with 229 sixes in the format.
Unlike previous instances, Rohit did not immediately resort to aggression. Instead, he allowed the right moment to present itself and capitalized on it with a boundary in the fifth delivery of the second over.
Rohit exemplified his impeccable timing and raw power by smacking the ball over the boundary rope with a swift wrist action. The Indian captain surpassed Gayle's record for the most sixes in one-day internationals.
The experienced batter had caught the bloodlust, but it still showed no signs of being fulfilled. In the next over, he greeted Saqib Mahmood by crushing the ball for a six with a mere extension of his arm for the cover drive.
Rohit ended Mark Wood's next over with another explosive hit, planting his feet firmly on the ground and effortlessly lifting the ball high into the stands to bring his score up. Despite a close close call with an LBW decision, Rohit remained aggressive in his assault.
He then bent his knee for the next ball and hit it high up in the air over the long-on stand. Rohit finished his half-century with a four scored from a cut shot in just 30 deliveries. (ANI)