In a career studded with milestones, Rohit Sharma has just added another glittering chapter. During India’s ODI opener against Australia in Perth on October 19, 2025, the ‘Hitman’ played his 500th international match—becoming only the fifth Indian to reach this elite landmark. But that’s not all: he’s now just a handful of maximums away from overtaking Shahid Afridi as the player with the most sixes in ODI history.
Rohit Sharma Joins Cricket’s Immortal Club
With his 500th appearance across formats, Rohit Sharma steps into a pantheon previously occupied by only four other Indian legends:
- Sachin Tendulkar (664 matches)
- MS Dhoni (538 matches)
- Virat Kohli (520+ matches and counting)
- Rahul Dravid (509 matches)
This achievement isn’t just about longevity—it’s a testament to consistency, adaptability, and leadership across all three formats over 17 years. From a middle-order batsman in 2007 to World Cup-winning captain in 2024, Rohit’s evolution mirrors modern Indian cricket itself.
Chasing Afridi: The Sixes Countdown
As of match day in Perth, Rohit Sharma sits on 350 ODI sixes, just four shy of Shahid Afridi’s record of 354. Given his form and the short boundaries at Perth Stadium, fans are buzzing: could the record fall in this very innings?
What makes this chase even more remarkable is Rohit’s strike rate—he clears the ropes not with reckless abandon, but with calculated elegance. His 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014 remains the highest individual score in ODIs, packed with 33 sixes alone.
Captaincy Legacy: Trophies That Define an Era
Rohit’s leadership résumé is now among the most decorated in Indian cricket history:
| Tournament | Year | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| ICC T20 World Cup | 2024 | Champions (ended 17-year drought) |
| ICC Champions Trophy | 2025 | Champions (defeated Australia in final) |
| World Test Championship | 2025 | Runners-up (narrow loss to South Africa) |
Under his calm captaincy, India has embraced aggressive yet disciplined cricket—especially in white-ball formats.
What 500 Matches Say About Rohit Sharma
Reaching 500 international games means facing over 30,000 deliveries, surviving countless selection debates, injuries, and format transitions. Yet Rohit remains a fixture—not out of nostalgia, but necessity. His ability to anchor innings or explode from ball one makes him irreplaceable, even in a squad brimming with young talent like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Teammate Virat Kohli put it best: “Rohit isn’t just a player—he’s an institution.”
The Road Ahead
With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, Rohit has hinted this may be his last cycle. Every six he hits now carries extra weight—not just for records, but for legacy. And as fans in Perth rise to their feet for his cover drive, they’re not just cheering a batsman—they’re honoring a generation.