India opener Rohit Sharma breaks Test sixes record

Sharma reached his third century of the series on day one at Ranchi, hitting an unbeaten 117 including four sixes to take his series tally to 17

India opener Rohit Sharma has broken Shimron Hetmyer’s record for most sixes in a Test series.

The West Indies batsman struck 15 sixes across four Test innings against Bangladesh at Chattogram and Dhaka in 2018.

Sharma reached his third century of the series on day one at Ranchi, hitting an unbeaten 117 including four sixes - one of which brought up three figures - to take his series tally to 17.

As it stands, Sharma's conversion to Test opener has seen him score 434 runs at an average of 144.66 against South Africa.

MOST SIXES IN A TEST SERIES

Rohit Sharma - 17* vs South Africa, 2019

Shimron Hetmyer - 15 vs Bangladesh, 2018

Wasim Raja - 14 vs West Indies, 1977

Andrew Flintoff - 14 vs South Africa, 2003

Matthew Hayden - 14 vs Zimbabwe, 2003

Prior to his switch to the top of the order, Sharma had represented India in 27 Tests, scoring 1,585 runs at an average of 39.62.

The Indian's 17 sixes are the most hit by any batsman in Tests in 2019. England’s Ben Stokes is his nearest competitor with 15 in eight Test innings. Sharma's 17 have come from just 592 deliveries compared to Stokes' 1,169.

Sharma's gluttonous series has also seen him become only the second India opener to score three or more centuries in a single Test series. Sunil Gavaskar achieved the feat on three separate occasions.

India are aiming to complete a whitewash in the three-match series following victories at Visakhapatnam and Pune.