Becoming the Undisputed 'Sixer King'
For over a decade, the title of 'Sixer King' in ODI cricket belonged to Pakistan's Shahid Afridi, whose tally of 351 sixes seemed untouchable. However, Rohit Sharma, nicknamed the 'Hitman' for his effortless power-hitting, has systematically chased down
that milestone. According to the latest figures, Sharma has already surpassed Afridi and currently leads the all-time list with 381 sixes. While he has already claimed the top spot, the series against New Zealand offers him a chance to do more than just extend his lead; it's an opportunity to build a formidable legacy. Every six he hits will further cement his status as the format's most prolific maximum-hitter, pushing the record into territory that future generations will find incredibly difficult to reach. He passed Afridi's mark in late 2025 and has been adding to it since.
Most Centuries as an ODI Opener
Perhaps the most prestigious record within his sights involves challenging his idol and former teammate, Sachin Tendulkar. The 'Master Blaster' set an incredible benchmark by scoring 45 of his 49 ODI centuries while opening the batting. This record has long stood as a testament to Tendulkar's sustained genius at the top of the order. However, Rohit's career transformation since becoming a full-time opener in 2013 has been nothing short of legendary. With his elegant timing and penchant for massive scores, he has steadily climbed the charts. As of late 2026, he has compiled an amazing 35 ODI centuries, with 32 of them coming as an opener. While surpassing David Warner, who briefly overtook Tendulkar for most international centuries as an opener across all formats is one thing, claiming the specific ODI record from Tendulkar would be a crowning achievement in his illustrious career. The New Zealand series provides the perfect stage to inch closer to this landmark.
Climbing India's All-Time Run Ladder
Beyond centuries and sixes lies the ultimate measure of a batsman's impact: career runs. Here, too, Rohit is closing in on an elite milestone. With 12,120 ODI runs to his name as of early 2026, he is already among India's greatest-ever run-scorers. The current list of Indian legends ahead of him is short. Sachin Tendulkar remains far ahead with 18,426 runs, followed by Virat Kohli. However, Rohit is within striking distance of surpassing Sourav Ganguly, who ended his career with 11,221 runs, and has already moved past Rahul Dravid. The upcoming series against the Black Caps presents a clear opportunity for Rohit to further solidify his position at number three on India's all-time ODI run-scorers list. Each run scored not only adds to his impressive total but also moves him further up a pantheon occupied by the absolute titans of Indian cricket.
