Rohit Sharma Eyes Shahid Afridi’s Record, Set to Create History in Australia

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, known worldwide for his explosive batting, now faces a challenge to one of his long-standing records from none other than India’s star opener Rohit Sharma. As Team India prepares for the upcoming Australia tour, Rohit has a golden opportunity to make history.

From October 19 to 25, India and Australia will clash in a three-match ODI series, where Rohit Sharma will open the innings. If Rohit manages to hit eight sixes during the series, he will surpass Shahid Afridi’s record to become the batsman with the most sixes in ODI cricket history.

So far, Rohit Sharma has scored 11,168 runs in 273 ODIs (265 innings), including his legendary 264-run innings — the highest individual score in ODI history. He has notched up 32 centuries, 58 fifties, 1,045 fours, and 344 sixes, placing him second on the all-time list behind Afridi. Remarkably, Rohit is also the only player in the world to score three double centuries in ODIs.

In comparison, Shahid Afridi amassed 8,064 runs in 398 ODIs (369 innings), with 6 centuries, 39 fifties, 730 fours, and 351 sixes. If Rohit’s bat fires on the Australian pitches, Afridi’s record could soon fall, marking another major milestone for Indian cricket.

The India-Australia ODI series will kick off on October 19 at Perth Stadium, followed by matches on October 23 at Adelaide Oval and October 25 at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

This series also marks the beginning of a new era for Team India, with Shubman Gill leading as the new ODI captain. Gill, who earlier captained the Test team, will now guide the ODI squad as well.

The return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the ODI lineup after nearly six months has significantly strengthened India’s squad. Their experience and consistency are expected to bring much-needed balance and confidence to the team.

For Rohit Sharma, this tour is not just about chasing a record, it’s a chance to reaffirm India’s dominance on Australian soil. Fans across the nation will be eagerly watching as the “Hitman” looks to etch his name in the record books once again.