Birthday special: Rohit Sharma – Reliving his three ODI double centuries

Rohit Sharma is a legend in the ODI format of the game. The ‘Hitman’ has already scored 9205 runs in ODI cricket and has scored his runs at an average of close to 50 (48.96). He has also scored 29 hundreds and 43 fifties in ODI cricket.

But then, there is one achievement of Rohit that places him on a pedestal of his own. Rohit Sharma is the only batsman to have plundered 3 double centuries in ODI cricket. As the legendary Indian batsman turns 34 today, let us relive the three double centuries that Rohit has plundered in his ODI career.

3) 208* vs Sri Lanka (2017)

Rohit Sharma decimated the Sri Lanka bowling attack on 13th December 2017 at the IS Bindra Cricket Stadium in Mohali. Batting first, the Indian side piled up a mammoth total of 392/4 on the board, courtesy Rohit Sharma. The ‘Hitman’ blazed away to a 153-ball 208*. Rohit’s innings was studded with 13 fours and 12 sixes. In reply, the Sri Lankan side was bowled out for just 251, as India walloped their opposition by a margin of 141 runs.

2) 209 vs Australia (2013)

On 2nd November 2013, Rohit Sharma exhibited the full range of shots in his batting arsenal and blasted 209 runs off just 158 deliveries to leave the Australian bowling attack totally shell shocked. Rohit’s marauding knock allowed the MS Dhoni-led Indian side to post a total of 383/6 on the board. In reply, even though James Faulkner scored a splendid 116 off just 73 deliveries, the kangaroos fell short of the target by 57 runs.

1) 264 vs Sri Lanka (2014)

Rohit Sharma is the only batsman in history to have scored a 250 in ODI cricket. And, he achieved this stupendous feat on 13th November 2014, at the Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata against the Sri Lankan side. Batting first, India piled up a total of 404/5 on the board, and the wrecker in chief was Rohit Sharma.

The batting colossus scored 264 runs off 173 deliveries, and this is the highest individual score ever recorded by a batsman in ODI cricket. Chasing a target of 405, the Sri Lankan side was shot out for just 251, as India won the match by 153 runs.