Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli may no longer be captaining their IPL teams, but their influence remains as strong as ever. Both legends continue to define their franchises – Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru – and this season, their rivalry has taken a new turn.
Now, it’s all about who can hit more sixes.
Rohit ahead, but not by much
Chris Gayle remains the all-time IPL six-hitting king with 357 sixes, a record that seems nearly untouchable. But among Indian batters, Rohit Sharma leads the pack with 282 sixes in 256 innings. Close behind is Virat Kohli, who has 278 sixes in 248 innings.
Just a four-sixer difference – and with the way Kohli is batting this season, the gap could disappear fast.
Kohli’s opportunity to surpass Rohit
Rohit, known as the “Hitman,” has always been feared for his effortless six-hitting. Kohli, on the other hand, has traditionally focused more on timing and ground shots. But this season, opening for RCB, Kohli has shown a more aggressive approach, sending the ball into the stands with ease.
With Rohit struggling for form and Kohli looking sharp, Virat now has a strong chance to become the Indian batter with the most sixes in IPL history. He needs just five more to move past Rohit – a number well within his reach.
Dhoni in the mix, but a bit behind
MS Dhoni, with 259 sixes in 234 innings, currently sits third among Indian batters. However, batting lower down the order means he faces fewer deliveries, and a late push to challenge Rohit or Kohli seems unlikely.
Virat Kohli determined to maintain momentum
With two fifties from four matches, Virat Kohli has made a strong start to the Indian Premier League 2025 season. His form has been a major boost for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and he looks determined to maintain that momentum.
“If you look at how things panned out even recently, in one of the Champions Trophy games, Shreyas (Iyer) took charge. It was never about ego. At that time, if I was in rhythm, in the flow of the game, I naturally took the initiative. If someone else was better placed to take the lead, they would do it. It was never about trying to overshadow anyone or suddenly feeling like I don’t have the ability. It’s always been about understanding the game situation – and that’s something I’ve always taken pride in. I want to play according to what the situation demands,” Kohli said ahead of Bangalore’s match against Delhi on Thursday (April 9).
