- By Vishal Pushkar
- Sun, 11 Jan 2026 07:53 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India vs New Zealand: Former India captain Rohit Sharma created a history of sorts during the first match of the ODI series against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday. In a league of his own, Rohit smashed his 650th six in international Cricket, solidifying his status in the list, sitting at the top. Opening the innings with captain Shubman Gill, Rohit entertained the crowd with his knock.
With 329 sixes in the 50-over format, Rohit also became the opener with the most sixes in ODI cricket, surpassing Chris Gayle.
Most sixes in ODI cricket (as opener) -
329* – Rohit Sharma
328 – Chris Gayle
263 – Sanath Jayasuriya
174 – Martin Guptill
167 – Sachin Tendulkar
How many runs did Rohit Sharma score?
The 39-year-old Cricketer smashed 26 off 29 balls, which featured three boundaries and 2 gigantic sixes. Rohit looked aggressive in his intent as he took on the pacers while walking down the track at will and smashing them down the ground.
Rohit Sharma 👉 Pull 👉 Maximum! Need we say more? 🤩😮💨#INDvNZ 👉 1st ODI LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/WbMZTXL0By pic.twitter.com/V9bMmhnpAO
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 11, 2026
You live by the sword, you die by it!
Rohit fell to New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson, who induced an edge off his bat and got him out at mid off. Captain Michael Bracewell took a good catch as New Zealand drew first blood in the match.
No Doubt About Rohit Sharma's Class: Sanjay Bangar
Speaking on Follow The Blues, JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar predicted Rohit Sharma will maintain his success with a more measured approach, looking ahead to the 2027 World Cup:
"There is no doubt about Rohit Sharma's class. He will repeat his 2025 success in 2026. He is very motivated and I like that he is not being over-aggressive. We know his natural rhythm. The main focus is the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, where the new ball will test him. He is batting with the right rhythm and will score well. This gives the team a strong start. Playing the new ball well is very important. One-day rules have changed, so keeping wickets in hand is key. The very aggressive approach we saw from him in the 2023 World Cup, I think we will see less of that now."
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India Need 301 To Win
New Zealand finished on 300 for 8 at the end of 50 overs. India need 301 to take a 1-0 lead in the series.