Ace Indian batter Rohit Sharma scripted a significant feat during the first ODI of the ongoing three-match series between India and South Africa.
Rohit came into the contest in Ranchi fresh off a Player of the Series performance against Australia in Sydney, and he picked from where left in that game, hitting a 51-ball 57 with three sixes and five fours.
Rohit's third six took him to the top of the pile as he eclipsed Shahid Afridi's record for most number of sixes hit by a player in men's ODIs.
Most sixes by a player in men's ODIs
| Player | Matches | Innings | Sixes |
| Rohit Sharma | 277 | 269 | 352 |
| Shahid Afridi | 398 | 369 | 351 |
| Chris Gayle | 301 | 294 | 331 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 445 | 433 | 270 |
| MS Dhoni | 350 | 297 | 229 |
Rohit's
first couple of sixes came on the 29th and 30th balls he faced. The consecutive maximums came off the bowling of Prenelan Subrayen towards deep midwicket and cow corner. The record-setting maximum came off Marco Jansen in the 20th over as Rohit deposited the back-of-a-length delivery for a six towards deep backward square.
However, Jansen redeemed himself by dismissing Rohit in his very next over. Rohit, attempting to pull, missed the ball due to low bounce and was struck on his pads as the umpire raised his finger for lbw. Rohit decided not to review the decision after a brief chat with Virat Kohli at the non-striker's end.
As for the match at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, South Africa won the toss and sent India in to bat first. Yashasvi Jaiswal looked promising during his short stay at the crease. However, Nandre Burger dismissed the southpaw on the first ball of his second over.
The Men in Blue come into the 50-over leg on the back of a 0-2 loss in the two-match Test series. The three ODIs will be followed by five T20Is. The all-format series, which commenced on November 14, is slated to get over on December 19.
