Rohit Sharma Breaks Dhoni's Six-Hitting Record in IPL

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-04-05

Well, here's a piece of cricket history that just unfolded. Mumbai Indians' star batter Rohit Sharma has done it again, setting a new benchmark for Indian players in the Indian Premier League. During a match against the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday, April 4, he became the Indian player with the most sixes ever hit against a single team in the tournament's long history. And guess whose record he broke? The legendary former Chennai Super Kings captain, MS Dhoni. That's right, the 'Hitman' has officially surpassed 'Captain Cool' in this elite category. It happened during the eighth match of the ongoing IPL 2026 season. Rohit walked onto the field knowing he needed just one more big six to move past Dhoni's long-standing tally. He didn't keep fans waiting long, achieving the feat in the seventh over of the first innings. Talk about seizing the moment. ### How The Record Was Broken Rohit arrived at the stadium in New Delhi with 50 sixes already against the Delhi franchise. During his innings, he faced bowler Vipraj Nigam in that fateful seventh over. On the sixth ball, the opening batsman launched a towering shot over the ropes, bringing his total to 51 sixes against the Delhi Capitals. One swing, one new record. Before this match, MS Dhoni held the record for an Indian batter with 50 sixes against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Rohit's single maximum was enough to take the top spot. He now leads an elite group of Indian batters who've dominated specific bowling attacks over many seasons. It's a testament to his consistency and power. Rohit's innings was impactful, scoring 35 runs off 26 balls. That included five boundaries and, of course, the record-breaking six. He looked in great touch, though he couldn't quite convert that start into a really big score. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel eventually took his wicket in the tenth over, with Nitish Rana completing a sharp catch. Here's something interesting though—Sharma came remarkably close to another massive milestone that same night. He was just 11 runs away from becoming the first player ever to score 6,000 runs for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. So close, yet so far.  ### Where The Record Stands Globally Now, while Rohit is now the number one Indian on this list, the global record still belongs to a true legend of the game. The West Indies powerhouse, Chris Gayle, holds the top two spots for most sixes against a single team. Let's break that down: - Chris Gayle smashed 61 sixes against Punjab Kings during his career - He also hit 54 sixes against the Kolkata Knight Riders - Rohit Sharma currently sits in third place globally with his 51 sixes against Delhi No other batter in the tournament has more than 50 sixes against a single team besides these three: Gayle, Rohit, and Dhoni. That's pretty exclusive company. ### What's Next For Dhoni? So, will MS Dhoni break the record again and reclaim the lead? That's the big question on everyone's mind. The chance is currently uncertain. Reports indicate Dhoni is recovering from a calf strain and is expected to miss several weeks of action for Chennai Super Kings. That's tough timing. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma continues to play as a regular opener for Mumbai Indians. This gives him a consistent opportunity to increase his tally in upcoming matches. The gap could widen before Dhoni even gets another chance to respond. ### The Match Itself Here's the twist—the record-breaking night for the Indian veteran didn't end in a victory for Mumbai Indians. The visitors struggled to build momentum throughout their innings. Regular captain Hardik Pandya missed the match due to illness, which stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed at the toss. In Pandya's absence, Mumbai's middle order appeared less stable. The team lost early wickets during the powerplay, including Ryan Rickelton for 9 runs and Tilak Varma for a duck. However, Suryakumar Yadav played an outstanding innings to give the team some fighting chance. It's one of those bittersweet moments in sports. Personal achievement doesn't always translate to team success. But records like these become part of the game's permanent history, remembered long after the final score is forgotten. As one cricket analyst put it, 'Records like these aren't just about numbers—they're about sustained excellence against specific challenges over many years.' Rohit Sharma has certainly demonstrated that against Delhi's bowling attack. What makes this record particularly impressive is the consistency required. Hitting sixes isn't just about power; it's about reading bowlers, understanding conditions, and picking the right moments over multiple seasons against the same opponent. Rohit has mastered that art against Delhi, and now he's got the record to prove it.