Rohit Sharma, IPL 2022, IPL 2021
Rohit Sharma (Image Credit: Twitter)

Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma will take the field on Sunday, in Dubai, against the Chennai Super Kings, as the second half of the IPL 2021 begins. On a personal not, he will be needed to hit three more sixes to become the first Indian batsman to smack 400 maximums in T20 cricket.

Rohit Sharma, with 397 sixes, is already the leading six-hitter amongst Indians in the shortest format – Suresh Raina (324), Virat Kohli (315) and MS Dhoni (303) follow the opener.

Of the 397 sixes, 224 have come in the IPL – 173 have come while batting for MI and 51 for the now-defunct Deccan Chargers – while the rest he has hit while playing for India, India A, Indians and Mumbai (in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy).

Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma (Image Credit: Twitter)

Overall, in T20 cricket Rohit Sharma is 8th on the list of batsmen with the most sixes. Dynamic opener Chris Gayle leads the list with 1042 maximums followed by Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Brendon McCullum, Shane Watson, AB de Villiers and Aaron Finch.

Rohit Sharma likely to take over from Virat Kohli as India’s next T20I captain

Earlier in the week, Virat Kohli announced that he will be stepping down as India’s T20I captain after the conclusion of the T20 World Cup. He will, however, continue as the ODI and Test skipper.

Kohli has so far led India in 45 T20Is, winning 27, losing 14 and tied two, both of which India won in the Super Over against New Zealand.

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Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma India
Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma. Image Credits: Twitter

Rohit Sharma, the current vice-captain, is the likeliest candidate to become the next India captain in the shortest format. His current record as captain – 15 wins in 19 T20Is and 5 IPL titles for MI – is a glowing representation of his captaincy skills.

For now, Sharma will lead Mumbai in the second half of IPL 2021 where they are currently fourth in the points table with 4 wins and 3 losses. MI look to claim their sixth IPL trophy and become the first team to make a hat-trick of IPL titles.