Scoring boundaries is one of the fastest ways to dominate a One Day International (ODI) match, and nothing highlights a batter’s control better than repeatedly finding the fence. While towering sixes often steal the spotlight, perfectly timed fours are equally valuable because they keep the scoreboard moving without forcing risky shots. Many of the greatest ODI innings have been built around elegant drives, cuts, pulls, and flicks that raced away to the boundary. That is why the record for the Most Fours in One Innings has become one of the most fascinating achievements in limited-overs cricket.
The list of players with the Most Fours in One Innings includes some of the greatest batters the game has ever seen. From stylish stroke-makers like Saeed Anwar and Sachin Tendulkar to modern powerhouses such as Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, every player featured here produced an unforgettable performance. These innings combined excellent timing, smart shot selection, and complete dominance over the opposition bowling attack.
List of 10 ODI Batters with the Most Fours in One Innings
10. Saeed Anwar
Pakistan legend Saeed Anwar occupies the tenth position on the list of players with the Most Fours in one innings in ODI cricket. On 21 May 1997 against India in Chennai, Anwar produced one of the finest innings ever played in the format. He scored an outstanding 194 runs from just 146 deliveries, setting a new world record for the highest individual ODI score at the time. His innings stood as the benchmark for more than 12 years before eventually being surpassed.
Anwar’s knock was a perfect example of graceful yet aggressive batting. Rather than relying only on power, he pierced gaps with elegant cover drives, square cuts, and flicks through the leg side. His 22 fours constantly kept Pakistan’s innings moving, while five towering sixes added extra entertainment. Even today, cricket fans remember this innings as one of the greatest examples of classical batting, making it worthy of a place among the Most Fours in One Innings records.
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saeed Anwar | 194 | 146 | 22 | 132.87 |
9. Calum MacLeod
Scotland batter Calum MacLeod earned his place among the players with the Most Fours in One Innings after producing a memorable unbeaten 157 against Afghanistan during the 2018 ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Bulawayo. It remains one of the greatest ODI innings ever played by a Scottish cricketer and demonstrated that Associate Nations could also produce world-class batting performances.
MacLeod began his innings with patience before accelerating spectacularly during the latter stages. His excellent timing and placement allowed him to hit 23 fours while maintaining complete control throughout the innings. Unlike many explosive knocks, MacLeod relied more on precision than brute force, with only one six in his innings. His outstanding performance continues to rank among the finest examples of the Most Fours in One Innings in ODI cricket.
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calum MacLeod | 157* | 146 | 23 | 107.53 |
READ MORE: Top 10 Most Dismissals in a Series for India vs England in T20I History
8. Ishan Kishan
Indian wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan announced himself on the global stage with an explosive innings against Bangladesh in Chattogram on 10 December 2022. His breathtaking 210 came from only 131 balls and included one of the fastest double centuries ever recorded in ODI cricket. Naturally, this remarkable performance also placed him among the players with the Most Fours in one innings.
Kishan dominated the Bangladesh bowlers with fearless stroke play from the beginning. He repeatedly found the boundary through powerful drives and aggressive cuts, smashing 24 fours alongside 10 sixes. His innings was a blend of clean hitting and intelligent placement, making it one of the most destructive ODI knocks by an Indian batter. The number of boundaries he scored ensured his place in the history books for the Most Fours in One Innings.
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ishan Kishan | 210 | 131 | 24 | 160.30 |
7. Fakhar Zaman
Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman became the first batter from his country to score an ODI double century when he remained unbeaten on 210 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo in July 2018. His incredible innings also secured his place among players with the Most Fours in one innings after striking 24 boundaries.
Fakhar looked comfortable throughout the innings and combined elegant timing with aggressive intent. He punished loose deliveries through the offside and was equally effective on the leg side. Along with his 24 fours, he also cleared the ropes five times to guide Pakistan to a massive total. His unbeaten double century remains one of Pakistan’s greatest ODI performances and an important record in the history of the Most Fours in One Innings.
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fakhar Zaman | 210* | 156 | 24 | 134.61 |
6. David Warner
Australian opener David Warner produced a masterclass against South Africa in Cape Town in 2016 with a magnificent innings of 173 runs from 136 deliveries. His performance stands out among the records for the Most Fours in One Innings because he did not hit a single six during the entire innings.
Warner relied completely on outstanding placement, sharp footwork, and perfect timing. His aggressive approach allowed him to find the fence on 24 occasions, proving that an innings filled with fours can be just as destructive as one packed with sixes. His knock demonstrated exceptional consistency and remains one of Australia’s finest batting displays in ODI cricket, securing another place on the list of the Most Fours in One Innings.
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Warner | 173 | 136 | 24 | 127.20 |
5. Martin Guptill
New Zealand opener Martin Guptill produced one of the greatest innings in Cricket World Cup history when he remained unbeaten on 237 against the West Indies during the 2015 quarter-final in Wellington. His incredible knock not only became the highest individual World Cup score but also earned him a place among the players with the Most Fours in one innings.
Guptill combined patience during the early overs with explosive hitting later in the innings. He struck 24 fours and 11 sixes, completely dominating the West Indies bowling attack. Every section of the ground was targeted as he powered New Zealand into the semi-finals. His unbeaten masterpiece remains one of the most unforgettable innings associated with the Most Fours in One Innings record.
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Guptill | 237* | 163 | 24 | 145.39 |
4. Sanath Jayasuriya
Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya built his reputation by attacking bowlers from the very first over, and his innings of 157 against the Netherlands in 2006 perfectly reflected that style. His remarkable knock ranks among the greatest performances for the Most Fours in One Innings.
Jayasuriya needed only 104 deliveries to score his 157 runs while hammering 24 fours and one six. He consistently punished anything short or overpitched and never allowed the Dutch bowlers to settle. His fearless batting transformed ODI opening strategies during his career, and this innings remains one of the finest examples of why he is remembered as one of cricket’s most dangerous openers. It is also one of the best performances in the history of the Most Fours in One Innings.
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 157 | 104 | 24 | 150.96 |
3. Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag became only the second player to score a men’s ODI double century when he blasted 219 runs against the West Indies in Indore in December 2011. His breathtaking innings also earned him third place among players with the Most Fours in one innings.
Sehwag’s aggressive mindset meant every loose delivery was punished. He smashed 25 fours and seven sixes while maintaining an outstanding strike rate throughout his innings. The Indian opener never allowed the bowlers to recover, entertaining fans with fearless stroke play from start to finish. His innings remains one of the greatest examples of attacking batting and is firmly established among the Most Fours in One Innings records.
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virender Sehwag | 219 | 149 | 25 | 146.97 |
READ MORE: Top 5 Players with the Most Sixes in ODI Cricket History
2. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar created cricket history on 24 February 2010 when he became the first male cricketer to score a double century in ODI cricket. His unbeaten 200 against South Africa at Gwalior remains one of the most iconic innings ever played and also ranks among the greatest achievements for the Most Fours in One Innings.
Unlike many explosive innings, Tendulkar’s masterpiece was built on perfect balance between aggression and control. He repeatedly pierced fielders with trademark straight drives, cover drives, and flicks to collect 25 fours, while also hitting three sixes. His flawless innings changed the perception of what was possible in ODI cricket and continue to inspire generations of batters. It remains one of the defining innings in the history of the Most Fours in One Innings.
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar | 200* | 147 | 25 | 136.05 |
1. Rohit Sharma
Indian captain Rohit Sharma sits comfortably at the top of the list for the Most Fours in One Innings in ODI cricket. His unforgettable innings of 264 against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens on 13 November 2014 remains the highest individual score ever recorded in ODI history. During this once-in-a-lifetime performance, Rohit struck an astonishing 33 fours, a record that still stands as the highest number of boundaries in a single ODI innings.
Rohit started steadily before producing one of the most destructive displays ever witnessed in international cricket. His elegant cover drives, pulls, flicks, and cuts repeatedly found the boundary, while nine massive sixes added even more excitement. Every part of the ground was used as he completely dominated the Sri Lankan bowling attack during the closing overs. His innings is widely regarded as one of the greatest batting performances of all time and remains the gold standard for the Most Fours in One Innings record. Given the quality of modern ODI cricket, breaking Rohit’s record of 33 fours will require another truly extraordinary innings.
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 264 | 173 | 33 | 152.60 |
The record for the Most Fours in One Innings in ODI cricket highlights the importance of timing, placement, and consistency in limited-overs batting. While sixes often attract the biggest applause, these remarkable innings prove that repeatedly finding the boundary with fours can be just as destructive. Every player on this list produced a memorable knock by combining skill, confidence, and smart shot selection to dominate the opposition.
At the top of the rankings, Rohit Sharma’s incredible 264-run innings with a record 33 fours remains the greatest achievement for the Most Fours in One Innings in ODI history. Legendary batters such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Sanath Jayasuriya, Martin Guptill, David Warner, Fakhar Zaman, Ishan Kishan, Calum MacLeod, and Saeed Anwar also delivered unforgettable performances that earned their place in cricket’s record books. As ODI cricket continues to evolve with more aggressive batting and flatter pitches, fans will be eager to see whether anyone can challenge Rohit Sharma’s long-standing record for the Most Fours in One Innings in the years to come.
FAQs
1. Who has the Most Fours in one innings in ODI cricket?
Rohit Sharma holds the record for the Most Fours in one innings in ODI cricket. He smashed 33 fours during his record-breaking innings of 264 runs against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens on 13 November 2014.
2. Which player scored the first ODI double century among the players on this list?
Sachin Tendulkar became the first men’s cricketer to score an ODI double century. He remained unbeaten on 200 against South Africa in Gwalior on 24 February 2010, hitting 25 fours during his historic innings.
3. How many players have hit 25 or more fours in one ODI innings?
Only three players have hit 25 or more fours in a single ODI innings:
Rohit Sharma – 33 fours
Sachin Tendulkar – 25 fours
Virender Sehwag – 25 fours
4. Which batter scored the highest individual ODI score while also recording the Most Fours in one innings?
Rohit Sharma achieved both records in the same innings. He scored 264 runs against Sri Lanka in 2014 and struck a record 33 fours, making it the highest individual score and the Most Fours in one innings in ODI history.
5. Why are fours important in ODI cricket?
Four allows batters to score quickly while keeping the strike rotating and reducing unnecessary risks. Many of the greatest ODI innings have been built around consistent boundary hitting, which is why records for the Most Fours in One Innings are considered among the most impressive batting achievements in the format.