Rohit Sharma's ODI Double Centuries: The Records That Stand Alone
Rohit Sharma's three ODI double centuries — the only batsman in history to achieve this — the 264 against Sri Lanka, 209 against Australia, 208 against Sri Lanka, and what made his opening conversion so revolutionary.
Rohit Sharma is the only batsman in cricket history to have scored three double centuries in ODI cricket. His three ODI double hundreds — 264 vs Sri Lanka (2014), 209 vs Australia (2013), 208 vs Sri Lanka (2017) — are among the highest ODI scores ever made. No other player has more than one ODI double century. The feat is particularly remarkable given that it required Rohit to bat through a significant portion of an ODI innings, a requirement that limited most hard-hitting openers to innings of 150-170.
The 264 Against Sri Lanka
On November 13, 2014, Rohit Sharma scored 264 from 173 balls at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata against Sri Lanka in an ODI. It remains the highest individual score in ODI cricket history. The innings contained 33 fours and 9 sixes. India scored 404/5 in their 50 overs. Rohit batted through the entire innings without being dismissed, pacing himself in the first half before accelerating dramatically in the final 15-20 overs. He had already scored 209 against Australia in Bangalore the previous year — then a world record.
The Opening Conversion
- Rohit had been used as a middle-order batsman for several years in ODIs — a strategic error that became obvious in hindsight. He averaged under 35 at No.5 and No.6.
- MS Dhoni moved him to open the batting in 2013, and the transformation was immediate. As an opener, Rohit averaged over 47 in ODIs, compared to his earlier middle-order average.
- The conversion to opener gave Rohit access to fielding restrictions (maximum 2 fielders outside the circle in the first 10 overs), allowing him to play his natural aggressive game without the risk of walking in with the score at 200-3 and needing to accelerate immediately.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest individual score in ODI cricket?
The highest individual score in ODI cricket is 264, scored by Rohit Sharma for India against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on November 13, 2014. Rohit hit 33 fours and 9 sixes from 173 balls. He is also the only batsman to have scored three ODI double centuries (264, 209, and 208), all against Sri Lanka or Australia.
Why was Rohit Sharma moved to open the batting?
Rohit Sharma was moved to open the ODI batting by MS Dhoni in 2013 after years of being used as a middle-order batsman where he averaged under 35. As an opener, Rohit could take full advantage of fielding restrictions in the Powerplay and express himself without pressure to accelerate immediately upon entering. The move transformed his ODI career: he averaged over 47 as an opener and scored all three of his ODI double centuries in this role.