Rohit Sharma Explained: Double Centuries, T20 WC 2024 Win, and His Three ODI Double Centuries

Rohit Sharma (born April 30, 1987, Nagpur, Maharashtra) is the only batsman in cricket history to have scored three ODI double centuries — scores of 264, 209, and 208 not out. His ODI batting (career average 49+, with 30+ ODI centuries) and his development from a T20 specialist into a composed Test opener define his multi-format excellence. As India's captain across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is from 2022, he led India to the 2024 T20 World Cup title — their first T20 WC win since 2007. He retired from T20Is after the 2024 T20 WC win and from Tests in May 2025 (Shubman Gill succeeded him as Test and ODI captain).

The Three ODI Double Centuries

Rohit's three ODI double centuries are unique in cricket history: (1) 264 vs Sri Lanka (Eden Gardens, Kolkata, November 13, 2014): the world record ODI score. India scored 404/5 in 50 overs. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 251. India won by 153 runs. Rohit's 264 came from 173 balls — at a strike rate of 152.6. He hit 33 fours and 9 sixes. Sachin Tendulkar (200 not out in 2010) and Martin Guptill (237 not out in 2015 WC) are the other scores above 200 in ODI cricket; (2) 209 vs Australia (Eden Gardens, November 2, 2015): a lower-key setting (a bilateral ODI vs Australia) but still an ODI double century — only the third in cricket history at the time. India beat Australia; (3) 208 not out vs Sri Lanka (Mohali, December 13, 2017): Rohit completed 200 not out in another bilateral ODI vs Sri Lanka. India won comfortably. This made Rohit the first and only batsman to score three 200+ scores in ODI cricket — a record he remains uniquely placed to extend.

The Test Career: Opening the Batting

Rohit's Test career transformation: (1) Initially a middle-order batsman in Tests (averaging 39-40 from numbers 5-6), Rohit was converted to Test opener in 2019 by coach Ravi Shastri and captain Virat Kohli; (2) The transformation worked dramatically: in his first Test series as opener (India vs South Africa, 2019, home series), Rohit scored 3 centuries in 3 matches. His opening technique — waiting for the ball to come to him, playing late, using his height and reach — suited the top of the order; (3) 2021 Australia tour (The Gabba Test): Rohit did not play in the famous 2021 Gabba Test (Pant's 89 not out win) due to injury but played in the series opener and the MCG Test. His presence at the top of the India Test order was important across the series; (4) Test captaincy (from 2022): Rohit replaced Kohli as Test captain. Under Rohit, India won the 2023 World Test Championship series qualification and played in the WTC Final (vs Australia, Lord's 2023 — Australia won). His captaincy is assessed as more tactically flexible than Kohli's — willing to play one extra spinner on subcontinental pitches and to trust young players in pressure situations.

The Hitman: Rohit's Batting Style

Rohit Sharma's batting style and nickname: (1) The Hitman: Rohit's nickname comes from his ability to hit the ball cleanly and powerfully, particularly straight and over mid-wicket. His square of the wicket hitting (flat-bat hitting through cover point, wide mid-on, wide mid-off) is exceptionally clean; (2) The pull shot: Rohit's pull shot is considered among the best in modern cricket — he gets into position quickly and hits the short ball powerfully through the square-leg area. His short-ball play in the 2024 T20 WC semi-final vs England (where England bowled short deliberately) was masterful; (3) The on-drive: Rohit's on-drive (through mid-on, straight, mid-wicket) is textbook — he reads the delivery length quickly and plays on the front foot with a high, full follow-through; (4) The single and rotating: despite his hitting ability, Rohit is an effective accumulator in Tests — he rotates the strike and takes ones and twos efficiently, making his batting compatible with both T20 and Test cricket tempo.