New Delhi: Continuing his record breaking spree, Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Sunday became the third wicketkeeper-batsman to reach 9000 One-Day International runs during the third match of the New Zealand series at Mohali.


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The India skipper, known for his ability to hit sixes, reached the landmark with a monster hit off the fifth ball of the 17th over, bowled by Mitchell Santner.



He now joined an elite three-man group of Kumar Sangakkara and Adam Gilchrist. He is also the fifth Indian to reach the mark, after Mohammad Azharuddin (9378), Sachin Tendulkar (18,426), Sourav Ganguly (11,363) and Rahul Dravid (10,889).


In terms with innings, he is the third fastest Indian and sixth overall to reach the 9000 ODI runs.


Dhoni entered his 281st ODI match with 8978 runs in 243 innings, with at least four records in sight.


After winning the toss, he put the Kiwis into bat, and soon became the first ever wicketkeeper to affect 150+ stumpings in international cricket.


Chasing New Zealand's 285, India lost both the openers Ajinkya Rahane and Rohti Sharma early in the innings, thus bringing Dhoni in the centre-stage.


The skipper, after crossing his 9000 ODI runs, hit another six off Santner again, off the fourth ball of the 21st over, to become the skipper with most ODI sixes, surpassing Ricky Ponting's 194.


He then broke Sachin Tendulkar's record of 195 ODI sixes, most by an Indian, in the 27th over, bowled James Neesham.


But the overall record for most sixes on ODI still belongs to Pakistan's Shahid Afridi (351), followed by Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuria (270).


West Indian Chris Gayle has 238, Kiwi Brendon McCullum with 200 are ahead of Dhoni and Tendulkar.


At the time filing the report, India were 143/2 in 27 overs.