Rohit Sharma’s Double Centuries

 

Rohit Sharma, fondly known as the Hitman in cricket, is the only player to have more than one ODI double centuries. He holds the record for the highest score – 264 – in ODIs. Rohit Sharma also scored a double century in Tests. In all these double century innings, India ended up winning the match and Rohit Sharma was named the Man of the Match.

Let’s take a closer look at Rohit Sharma’s double centuries in international cricket.

ODI

Contents

• ODI – 209 against Australia at Bangalore in 2013
• ODI – 264 against Sri Lanka at Kolkata in 2014
• ODI – 208-not out against Sri Lanka at Mohali in 2017
• Test – 212 against South Africa at Ranchi in 2019

ODI – 209 against Australia at Bangalore in 2013

first ODI double century for Rohit Sharma came while playing against Australia at Bangalore on 2 November 2013. Australia chose to field in the decider of a 7-match ODI series held at a small M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

Rohit Sharma opened the innings with Shikhar Dhawan and put on a 100-run stand at about run a ball. By the time Shikhar got out after a well-made half-century, Rohit was playing on 40 in 57 deliveries. Soon India lost Kohli to a run-out but Rohit held one end and reached 50 in 71 deliveries in the 24^th over. At the halfway stage, Rohit had 51 runs. In the next half, he scored more than trice as many.

From the 26^th over onwards, he changed the gears and started hitting sixes at will as the wickets kept tumbling from the other end. He reached 100 in 114 balls. It took him just 43 deliveries for the second 50. The next 50 runs came even quicker in just 26 deliveries as the carnage continued. By 46th over, he had scored 157 in 143 deliveries. It looked impossible to get a double century from that position but unprecedented hitting in the last 4 overs took Rohit Sharma to his first ODI double hundred in just 156 deliveries – last 50 runs came in just 16 deliveries.

Rohit got out in the last over on 209 off 158 deliveries – with 12 fours and 16 sixes – as India set a massive 384 target for Australia. It proved too much for the Aussies as they folded for 326 in the 46^th over.

ODI – 264 against Sr

ODI – 264 against Sri Lanka at Kolkata in 2014

his first ODI double hundred, Rohit Sharma registered his second double hundred in ODIs against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in November 2014. It was the 4^th ODI of a 5-match home series against Sri Lanka. India won the toss and elected to bat first.

Rohit Sharma opened the innings with Ajinkya Rahane and was cautious, to begin with. By the time the second wicket fell, in the form of Rayudu in the 13^th over, India were scoring under 5 an over. In the 23^rd over, Rohit Sharma completed half-century in 72 deliveries. In the remaining 27 overs, he scored more than 4 times as many.

Rohit Sharma picked up the pace and completed the century in the 32^nd over in exactly 100 balls – second 50 coming in just 28 balls. The Hitman hadn’t even begun yet. By the 39^th over, Rohit completed 150 in 125 deliveries. With 11 overs to go, 200 was on the cards for Rohit. However, 250 looked like a distant dream.

As expected, Rohit completed the second double hundred in 151 deliveries in the 46^th over. In the next 15 deliveries, he crossed 250 and by the time he got out on the final ball of the innings, he had scored 264 runs – still the highest score in ODIs. Sharma hit 33 fours and 9 sixes in that innings. Chasing 405, Sri Lanka scored 251 – 13 fewer than what Rohit Sharma managed to score alone.

ODI – 208-not out against Sri La

ODI – 208-not out against Sri Lanka at Mohali in 2017

iving end of another Rohit Sharma’s double century in December 2017 at Mohali. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field in the decider of the 3-match series between India and Sri Lanka.

Rohit Sharma, captaining the side in the absence of Virat Kohli, opened the innings with Shikhar Dhawan and was involved in a 100-run partnership. By the time the partnership broke, Rohit Sharma had scored 46 of 60 deliveries. He completed the half-century in 65 deliveries. It took him a while to reach the century as he completed it in 115 deliveries in the 40^th over. With just 10 overs to go, Sri Lanka wouldn’t have thought about another individual 200 against them.

Rohit shifted gears in the 44^th over, hitting 4 sixes against Lakmal. In the next couple of overs, he hit 3 more sixes. It took him just 18 deliveries to move from a score of 100 to 150. Another 18 deliveries later, the Hitman completed his third double hundred in ODIs – second against Sri Lanka and first as a captain. He remained not out on 208 scored in 153 deliveries with 13 fours and 12 towering sixes. Chasing 393, Sri Lanka were all out for 251. At least this time, they managed to score more than Rohit Sharma.

Test – 212 against South Africa at Ranchi

Test – 212 against South Africa at Ranchi in 2019

al double century in a home match played at Ranchi against South Africa in October 2019, opening the innings for India. It was the last game of the 3-match Test that India had already won 2-0. This was Rohit Sharma’s fourth innings as an opener in Test Cricket. He had already scored a couple of centuries in both innings of the first Test of the same series against South Africa.

Rohit Sharma opened the innings with Mayank Agarwal but soon India were 39 for 3 midway through the first session. He joined hands with Ajinkya Rahane and took the score to 306. Rohit completed the century in the second session in 130 deliveries and ended the day on 108 when bad light stopped play on Day-1. On Day-2, he completed the double hundred in 249 deliveries with 28 fours and 5 sixes. He was dismissed on 212 as India eventually declared on 497 for 7. India won that Test by an innings and 202 runs in under 3 days of play.