Ranking the 8 Double-centuries in ODI history

Rank 8: Fakhar Zaman 210* vs Zimbabwe

Against a demoralized Zimbabwe side, the Pakistani batsman was unstoppable as he thrashed the Zimbabwean bowlers mercilessly, especially their medium pacers and spinners. While Zaman’s innings was brilliant, the fact that it came against a very poor attack prevents it from being placed higher in these rankings.

Rank 7: Rohit Sharma 208* vs Sri Lanka

As usual, Rohit started slowly and went into the Hitman mode after the first 100. He took on the Lankan bowlers to cleaners as the next 100 came in just 36 balls. This was his third double century and was arguably the least impressive among the lot as he conquered a comparatively poor Sri Lankan bowling attack.

Rank 6: Virender Sehwag 219 vs West Indies

Sehwag demolished the West Indian bowlers with a sensational 219, which was the highest ODI score ever at that time. If Sehwag would not have gotten out in the 47th over, he could have crossed the 250-run mark on that day. He faced 149 balls and hit 25 fours and seven sixes in his record-breaking innings. The man at the non-striker’s end was making notes of everything - Rohit Sharma.

Rank 5: Chris Gayle 215 vs Zimbabwe

Gayle scored one of his slower centuries (in 105 balls) in the first half, but as soon as he reached the milestone, it was pure mayhem. He started hitting the hopeless Zimbabwe bowlers over the boundary with thunderous pull shots and his elevated straight drives. In the end, Gayle and Samuels finished with the highest partnership in ODI history - 372 runs.

Rank 4: Rohit Sharma 209 vs Australia

The India vs Australia series in 2013 saw a marvellous double-ton by Rohit Sharma. Much like his routine, he completed his first fifty in 71 balls and it came at almost the halfway mark in the innings. Then he started the attack on spinners and it spread to pacers too. He hit 96 runs in the last 10 overs before finally being caught out in the last over. However, the innings can’t be ranked higher because it came on an extremely flat track.

Rank 3: Rohit Sharma 264 vs Sri Lanka

Pretty much the same story. The Mumbaikar’s fifty came at a slowish pace of 72 balls. But the next 50 came in 28 balls, the next 50 in 25 balls and the next 100 in 41 balls. Records were tumbled and careers were destroyed in that match. But a rather mediocre quality of the Sri Lankan bowling prevents this remarkable innings being classified as the best.

Rank 2: Martin Guptill 237* vs West Indies

Guptill followed the traditionally successful formula for a big innings. A slow start followed by the carnage. He completed 50 from 64 balls and reached 100 with a run-a-ball strike rate.

However, with 15 overs to go, Guptill took advantage of the batting powerplay and set himself up for the final 10 overs. He added 92 runs in that period and finished with a classy 237. The fact that the innings came in a high-pressure knockout match makes this an invaluable innings.

Rank 1: Sachin Tendulkar 200* vs South Africa

For forty years, no player managed to score an ODI double hundred. Saeed Anwar and Charles Coventry came close, but both of them couldn’t touch the magic number, as their innings ended at 194. History was awaiting the right man to breach the milestone and rightfully it was the Little Master. Sachin Tendulkar toyed with South Africa’s brilliant bowling attack with a classical knock of 200*, hitting 25 fours and 3 sixes and became the first man to score 200 in an ODI innings.

The 25 fours included lovely flicks, classical leg glances, majestic square drives, beautiful elevated straight drives, and of course, eight of the most elegant cover drives you will ever see.

This innings will never be forgotten, no matter how many double centuries are made.