Introduction
Double centuries in ODI cricket are widely respected. It takes a lot of hard work and concentration to reach the top of batting. Great players have achieved this through the years. Here, we will explore the list of double centuries scored in ODI cricket.
We will look at the Little Master Tendulkar and the Big Show Mathews, plus all the other greats who have achieved the feat:
Definition of a Double Century
A DXC (double century) in cricket is two hundred runs or more in one innings. It’s a rare feat, needing lots of concentration and dedication. Batsmen must use tactics and technique to keep the runs going, and fight their opponents.
In ODI cricket, only 10 players have ever made it. Sachin Tendulkar has two centuries. Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma have one each. We’ll look at their performance data to better understand their achievements.
History of Double Centuries in ODI
Cricket has always been a captivating game. From early days of limited-overs, where batsmen had to run within a certain number of overs, to the modern era where they have more time and chances to score big.
In 2010, Sachin Tendulkar scored a remarkable 200* against South Africa at Captain Roop Singh Stadium, Gwalior for the first double century in ODIs. Since then, 8 more double centuries have been made with 3 being scored by Indian cricketers. These include Rohit Sharma (209* vs Australia at Bengaluru in 2013; 264 vs Sri Lanka at Kolkata in 2014; and 208* vs West Indies at Bengaluru in 2019). The other cricketers who achieved this feat were Chris Gayle (215 vs Zimbabwe), Virender Sehwag (219 vs West Indies), Martin Guptill (237 not out vs West Indies), Fakhar Zaman (210 vs New Zealand) and Aaron Finch (223 vs Zimbabwe).
Double centuries are a prestigious milestone for any batsman – esp. given their rarity. Reaching such a feat requires great talent and focus. It is a testament to the modern day batsmen that more players are joining the elite club each year.
Here’s a list of all who have scored double centuries:
- Sachin Tendulkar 200* Vs South Africa, 2010
- Chris Gayle 215 Vs Zimbabwe 2015
- Virender Sehwag 219 Vs West Indies 2011
- Rohit Sharma 209* Vs Australia 2013 & 208* Vs West Indies 2019 & 264 vs Sri Lanka 2014
- Martin Guptill 237 not out Vs West Indies 2015
- Fakhar Zaman 210 Vs New Zealand 2018
- Aaron Finch 223 Vs Zimbabwe 2018
List of Double Centuries
An ODI double century? Wow! That is a fantastic batting feat! It’s when a batsman scores 200 or more runs in a single innings in an ODI game. Not many have managed to do it. So, here’s a list of cricketers who have scored double centuries in ODI’s since 2000:
- Sachin Tendulkar
- Virender Sehwag
- Chris Gayle
- Rohit Sharma
- Martin Guptill
- Fakhar Zaman
- Shane Watson
- Virat Kohli
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for most double centuries in ODI cricket with six! He achieved this feat between 1994 and 2011. His first double century was versus South Africa in 2010, and his last against the same country in 2011.
Here’s a list of Sachin Tendulkar’s ODI double centuries:
- 200* vs South Africa (2010)
- 203* vs Sri Lanka (1997)
- 209 vs Australia (2004)
- 219* vs South Africa (2007)
- 200* vs New Zealand (2009)
- 203* vs South Africa (2011)
Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag was an Indian cricketer who was famed for his prodigious hitting ability and high strike rate. He was nicknamed ‘Viru’ owing to his trademark attacking style of batting in Test matches.
He scored many double centuries in both Tests and One Day Internationals (ODI). Sehwag is one of only five cricketers to have scored an ODI double century.
His highest Test Double Century was 219 against West Indies – a record which held for 40 years until Prithvi Shaw smashed 243* against Sri Lanka. Sehwag holds the unique feat of having two triple centuries in Tests followed by a double century – a feat unmatched to this day.
Here is a list of Virender Sehwag’s Significant Double Centuries:
- 219 vs West Indies – 2011
- 201 vs New Zealand – 2009
- 217 vs South Africa – 2007
- 203* vs Pakistan – 2006
- 204 vs Pakistan- 2005
- 175* vs Lanka- 2000
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma, right-handed opening batsman of Team India, is a successful double century hitter in the history of One-Day Internationals (ODI). He has broken many records, like scoring highest individual score in an ODI match (264 runs). Rohit has scored five double centuries in ODIs. Here is his list:
- 209 off 158 balls vs Australia at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in 2013.
- 264 off 173 balls vs Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in 2014.
- 208 off 153 balls vs Sri Lanka at MCA-International Cricket Stadium Pune in 2017.
- 208 off 151 balls vs South Africa at Captain Roop Singh Stadium in 2019.
- 217 off 149 balls vs New Zealand at Bay Oval in 2020.
Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle is one of the most famous cricketers in the world. He’s renowned for his record-breaking performances.
On April 16, 2014, Gayle scored an amazing 200 off 138 balls during an Indian Premier League match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Pune Warriors India. This double century is famously known as “The Chris Gayle Double Century“. It was not only Gayle’s first double century in cricket, but also holds a special place in the history books. It’s one of the greatest knocks in ODIs.
Martin Guptill
Martin Guptill of New Zealand holds the record for most double centuries in ODIs. He achieved this with three double centuries in his ODI career. In April 2011, he scored 189* off 155 balls against Bangladesh. It was the first double century in a World Cup match – the highest score ever registered in an ODI. Then in 2015, he bettered his record with 237* off 163 balls against West Indies. This made Guptill the first to score two double centuries in ODIs. On 10th March 2019, he made his third ODI double hundred. He also became the fastest player to reach 8000 runs in one-day cricket. 175 dots, 40 fours & sixes at a strike rate of 94+ runs per 100 balls got him there.
His scores are:
- 189* VS Bangladesh (April 26th 2011)
- 237* VS West Indies (March 21st 2015)
- 201* Vs England (March 10th 2019)
Mahela Jayawardene
Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka has scored 12 centuries in ODI Cricket. Five of them are doubles. The ICC also credited him with one more double century haul even though it was scored over two games.
His first double century came in 2006 vs Zimbabwe and his last one was against Bangladesh in 2015.
Here is a list of Mahela Jayawardene’s double centuries:
- 200* Runs vs Zimbabwe (April 28th, 2006)
- 200 Runs vs England (June 29th, 2007)
- 213 Runs vs India (July 4th, 2008)
- 100* & 100* Runs vs India (November 15th & 18th, 2009)
- 147 Runs vs Australia (February 5th 2010)
- 100* & 100* runs against Bangladesh (January 10 & 13th 2015).
Conclusion
This article has illuminated the double centuries achieved in ODI cricket. It named the illustrious players and gave us a deep understanding of their accomplishments. We can thus conclude that a double century in ODI cricket is quite a rare feat, which demonstrates the true character of a batsman. We can appreciate the courage and strength of those who have achieved this remarkable goal.
Impact of Double Centuries in ODI
Double centuries in One-Day International cricket have had a huge impact on match results. Teams now focus more on offense and defense, which has led to a higher average batting score. This has in turn changed fielding positions.
In 2018, only one century was scored before double centuries were introduced. Now, there are 24. Run rates have also increased and teams strive for higher scores.
Double centuries are usually scored by experienced players who have a consistent strike rate. Even then, it is hard to achieve. But studies still show good results.
The number of double centuries will keep rising as batsmen keep trying to reach their goals before the time runs out. This is making cricket more exciting than ever.
Future of Double Centuries in ODI
Double centuries, or innings more than 200-runs, are prestigious in ODI cricket. Rohit Sharma of India holds the record with two in 2014 and 2017.
Before 2000, there were only five double centuries in eleven years. Since then, sixteen have been scored from 2011 to 2020. It’s not certain if double centuries will keep coming, but it would be exciting for cricket fans. Past trends may mean an even bigger peak in double centuries. Players may make more records by achieving this feat more often!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What is a Double Century?
A1: A double century is a score of 200 or more runs in a single innings of a One Day International (ODI) match.
Q2: Who has scored a double century in an ODI?
A2: Several players have scored a double century in an ODI, including Rohit Sharma (India), Virender Sehwag (India), Chris Gayle (West Indies), Martin Guptill (New Zealand) and Sachin Tendulkar (India).
Q3: Who currently holds the record for the highest ODI double century?
A3: Rohit Sharma currently holds the record for the highest ODI double century, with a score of 264 runs against Sri Lanka in 2014.
