NEW DELHI: The 38-year-old top-ranked ODI batter Rohit Sharma proved that age is just a number as he continued rewriting record books in international cricket. The former India captain created history by becoming the batter with the most sixes in ODIs, achieving the milestone during the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday.

Rohit surpassed former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi's record of 351 sixes when he pulled Marco Jansen over long leg to claim the world record. While Rohit achieved the milestone in just his 277th ODI, Afridi had taken 398 matches to set the previous mark.

Needing three sixes to reach the milestone, Rohit took on South Africa spinner Prenelan Subrayen, smashing him for back-to-back identical slog sweeps to draw level with Afridi.

The third spot belongs to West Indies powerhouse Chris Gayle with 331 sixes, followed by Sri Lankan great Sanath Jayasuriya with 270. Former India captain MS Dhoni rounds off the top five with 229 sixes.

Rohit's milestone may remain untouched for years, especially with Virat Kohli being the only active player in the top 20 - and he sits at just 157 sixes so far.

Rohit also dominates the charts in T20Is, where he holds the record for the most sixes, sitting comfortably at the top with 205 maximums.

Rohit picked up right from where he left off against Australia Down Under last month, registering his third consecutive fifty-plus score after his knocks of 73 and an unbeaten 121 in the second and third ODIs.

However, he couldn't carry the momentum forward after reaching his half-century and was dismissed by Marco Jansen for a 51-ball 57.