Rohit Sharma Matches Chris Gayle's ODI Sixes Record, Sets Sights On Afridi

Rohit Sharma matched Chris Gayle's record for the second-most ODI sixes at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on August 7. Rohit has now hit 331 sixes in just 257 innings.

Chris Gayle, a West Indies legend, ended his ODI career with 331 sixes in 294 innings. Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka's interim head coach, ranks third with 270 sixes in 433 innings. Former India captain MS Dhoni is fourth with 229 maximums in 297 innings.

• Shahid Afridi: 351
• Rohit Sharma: 331
• Chris Gayle: 331
• Sanath Jayasuriya: 270
• MS Dhoni: 229

In the third ODI against Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma had a strong start, scoring 35 runs off just 20 balls. His innings included six fours and one six. At age 37, he is now only 21 sixes away from surpassing Shahid Afridi's record of most ODI sixes. Afridi hit a total of 351 sixes in his career spanning 369 innings.

The Indian batting line-up faltered once more after their captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed. He had scored fifties in the previous two ODIs.

In the first ODI, India's openers put together a partnership of 75 runs before being bowled out for 230, resulting in a tie. In the second match, Rohit and Shubman Gill added a solid 97-run stand before India were all-out for 208 while chasing a target of 241.

During the third and decisive ODI, India struggled again after Rohit's dismissal in the eighth over (53/2). They were reduced to a precarious position at 101/8. This put them on the verge of their first bilateral ODI series defeat against Sri Lanka since 1997.

The Indian team needs to address their middle-order vulnerabilities to avoid such collapses in future matches. The reliance on top-order batsmen like Rohit Sharma has been evident throughout this series.

The performance gap between India's top order and middle order has become increasingly apparent. Consistent contributions from all players are essential for securing victories in upcoming games.

This series highlighted areas where India must improve to maintain their competitive edge in international cricket. Ensuring stability throughout the batting line-up will be crucial moving forward.