Fastest Double Centuries in One-Day Internationals

The cricketing world had to wait for three and a half decades of ODI cricket to see a small Indian registered the first ever double hundred. Sachin Tendulkar, aged 37 then, scored the first-ever double century in ODI cricket, and since then it is not an impossible task as many others have also scaled that milestone.

The introduction of T20 cricket and broader bats ensured it is not far-sight anymore. It pushed par-scores with every passing game and the double century column kept finding new entrants. Rohit Sharma has made it a habit of scaling the landmark doing it thrice so far. Moreover, three Indian National Cricket team have achieved this feat- the most by any country.

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On this context, let us take a look at the fastest double centuries in ODI cricket:

8) ROHIT SHARMA (156 balls vs Australia, 2013)

This was Rohit Sharma’s first ever double-hundred as he became only the third Indian to achieve this feat. The run fest at Bengaluru saw Rohit play a scintillating knock to entertain the crowds and guide India to a 57-run victory over Australia.

Batting first, Rohit Sharma single-handedly powered the home side 383 runs with an outstanding 209 runs knock. Shikhar Dhawan – his opening partner gave Rohit important support as the Mumbai batsman reached the milestone in 156 balls. He absolutely ran a carnage over the Aussie bowlers to achieve the feat.

The Indian team managed to defend that target and beat the visitors by 57 runs.

7) MARTIN GUPTILL (153 balls vs Windies, 2015)

Martin Guptill can hit the ball long and will be crucial to New Zealand’s chances in the ICC World Cup 2019. Also, he played a significant role last time when he single-handed took his country to the semifinals of the tournament.

The right-handed batsman started on fifth gear dispatching everything at his disposal. He shared small partnerships but absolutely perished the Windies bowling attack. Guptill achieved the landmark in just 153 balls and eventually remained unbeaten on 237 runs including 24 boundaries and 11 sixes. He absolutely tore apart the Windies attack to brought the second double hundred of the World Cup.

The Kiwis won that game by 143 runs to set up a semifinal clash with South Africa.

6) ROHIT SHARMA (151 balls vs Sri Lanka, 2017)

Rohit Sharma became the only batsman to score three double centuries and both against one nation – Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, this was Sharma’s second fastest among all the three. Moreover, this was Rohit’s first double hundred as a skipper.

When on song, Rohit Sharma is the cleanest hitter of the cricket ball and the second ODI against Sri Lanka during the 2017 tour was one such game. Everything he touched turned into gold as he shared two big partnerships with Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer to help India post a mammoth total. In the process, Sharma brought another double century off just 151 balls. He eventually was unbeaten on 208 runs including 13 fours and 12 boundaries.

India eventually won the match by 141 runs restricting Sri Lanka to 258 in their 50 overs.

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5) ROHIT SHARMA (151 balls vs Sri Lanka, 2014)

When it comes to scoring big, very few can match the calibre of Rohit Sharma. One year after he scored his first double hundred against Australia, Sharma brought his second ODI double century.

Rohit took time early one scoring only runs from the first 22 deliveries. But when he cut loose, there was no stopping the Hitman. He dispatched everything at his disposal and continued his aggressive batting with good support from Virat Kohli and Robin Uthappa. Besides, dropped catches and misfielding from the Sri Lankans helped Rohit Sharma brought his fastest double century in just 148 balls. The Mumbai batsman drilled consecutive boundaries in the 45th over to achieve the magical mark.

4) FAKHAR ZAMAN (148 balls vs Zimbabwe, 2018)

Fakhar Zaman is one of the best batsmen from Pakistan of this generation. Although he is a bit unconventional, Zaman’s aggressive display of batting has impressed all and sundry. Although he struggles a lot due to inconsistency, when Zaman gets going, it is hard to stop him.

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One such innings was against Zimbabwe when he partnered Imam-ul-Haq to help Pakistan post a massive total. Zaman’s partner also scored a beautiful hundred, but Fakhar Zaman’s out of the world hitting subdued everything. He brought his double hundred off just 148 balls muscling a weak Zimbabwean bowling attack. He eventually remained unbeaten at 210 runs including 24 boundaries and five sixes.

Pakistan won the match by a staggering margin of 244 runs.

3) SACHIN TENDULKAR (147 balls vs South Africa, 2010)

The legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar was the first batsman ever to open the account for men’s cricket in the world of 200. Since then, many have reached the milestone, but Sachin’s achievement will forever be in the minds of the cricket lovers.

During the fag end of his career, Tendulkar became selective in playing games ahead of the 2011 World Cup. He played only a handful of games in 2010, and one of them was the historic game against South Africa in Gwalior. He was in his zone from the start, pacing his innings brilliantly, against the combined power of Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell and Jacques Kallis.

Tendulkar eventually reached the milestone in the third ball of the 50th over studded with 25 fours and three sixes.

2) VIRENDER SEHWAG (140 balls vs Windies, 2011)

Virender Sehwag followed the footsteps of his longtime mentor Sachin Tendulkar, a year after when he scored a double hundred in ODIs. Taking on a weak Windies bowling attack, the aggressive Indian opener better Tendulkar’s record playing a knock of 219 runs.

Sehwag’s brutal knock powered India to post 419 runs on the board. Windies employed various options to stop Sehwag, but no one could escape the wrath of the destructive opener. He was finally run out in the 47th over after a well-made 219 runs knock including 25 fours and seven towering sixes.

India had won the game 153 runs.

1) CHRIS GAYLE (138 balls vs Zimbabwe, 2014)

When it comes to hitting the ball fiercely, Chris Gayle is the first name that comes to the mind of the cricket lovers. And when we talk about reaching a landmark fastest regarding batting, Gayle will inevitably sit at the top. Rightly so, he leads the chart for the fastest double hundred.

Gayle achieved the landmark in the ICC World Cup 2015 against Zimbabwe. The southpaw combined with Marlon Samuels for a record 372-run partnership thus ending a 20-month drought of centuries. Gayle reached the landmark in 138 balls bettering Virender Sehwag‘s 140 balls. Gayle knock included ten boundaries and 14 massive sixes.

Windies eventually won the match by 73 runs via Duckworth Lewis Method.

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