In 2010, Sachin Tendulkar set a new standard in ODI cricket by becoming the first player to score a double century in a 50-over match, surpassing Saeed Anwar and Charles Coventry’s record of 194. This achievement paved the way for others like Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma to reach this landmark.
Among these milestones, Rohit Sharma’s innings on November 13, 2014, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata stands out as extraordinary. He redefined the concept of a “daddy hundred” by scoring an unprecedented 264 against Sri Lanka—the highest individual score in ODI history, a record that still holds. It was not Rohit’s first time breaching the 200-run mark; he had scored 209 against Australia the previous year, just short of Sehwag’s then-record 219 against the West Indies in 2011.
That fateful day in Kolkata, Rohit was given an early lifeline when he was dropped on 4 by Thisara Perera, a mistake that cost Sri Lanka dearly as Rohit went on to add 260 more runs. He reached his first hundred cautiously off 100 balls by the 32nd over, but from there, his acceleration was remarkable. His second fifty came in just 25 balls as he took on bowlers like Angelo Mathews and Seekuge Prasanna with ease. Rohit brought up his double century in 151 balls, hitting a boundary in the 46th over to surpass 200.
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The last 22 balls of his innings turned into a brutal display of power as he struck nine boundaries and three sixes, even being dropped once more after reaching his double hundred. Despite getting out on the final ball of the innings, he ended with a historic 264 off just 173 balls. His incredible knock featured 33 boundaries and 9 sixes, taking India’s total to a formidable 404 for 5. The next-highest score was Virat Kohli’s 66 off 64 balls, emphasizing Rohit’s dominance.
This was Rohit’s second double century, making him the first player to achieve this feat twice in ODI cricket. He would go on to reach another double century—208 not out—against Sri Lanka in Mohali on December 13, 2017, solidifying his legacy as the only player to have scored three double centuries in ODI cricket.
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