Rohit Sharma one of the destructive opening batsmen in ODI cricket achieved the impossible thing of scoring 3 double centuries in 50 overs format. During second One day international against Sri Lanka played today at Mohali, Sharma took time to settle and then smashed the Sri Lankan bowlers to all parts of the ground. He remained not out on 208 with 13 fours and 12 sixes. It was a special knock by one of the most talented cricketers in ODI cricket.
Out of the 7 double centuries in 50 overs format, Sharma has scored 3 of them. During today’s knock, he broke many records. He became the second highest scorer by an Indian captain in ODI cricket. Previous best was by Virender Sehwag of 219 against West Indies. Apart from that, Sharma also has most 150 scores in ODI cricket with great Sachin Tendulkar and explosive David Warner with 5 each.
Rohit Sharma made his ODI debut in 2007. Since then he has played 173 matches and scored 6417 runs at an average of 45.51. In 2013 Champions Trophy, MS Dhoni promoted him at the top of the order which changed his life forever. His first double century came to Australia in final and deciding ODI match at Bengaluru. During that epic knock of 209 in 158 balls, Rohit Sharma created record hitting 12 fours and 16 sixes.
Since the time, he has opened the innings for India in ODI cricket from 2013 onwards, Sharma converts starts into big scores and helps team Men in Blue win matches. The top scorer in One-day international cricket came from his bat of 264 not out against Sri Lanka at Eden Garden’s, Kolkata on 13th November 2014. During that knock, he hit 33 fours and 9 sixes.
In the year 2017, Rohit Sharma has scored 6 centuries. Other players to score double centuries are Sachin Tendulkar, Chris Gayle, Martin Guptill, Virender Sehwag. The dashing opening batsman becomes the first player to score 2 ODI double centuries against the same team.
Sharma ability to accelerate the innings after 100 makes him a special batsman in ODI cricket. He has converted starts into big scores. He was made the captain of the Indian ODI team for ODI series against Sri Lanka. In the first One day international, the talented batsman was dismissed for 0. Today, he started cautiously and then after completing his century, dominated the Sri Lankan bowlers.
It is hard to break Rohit Sharma 3 double centuries record in 50 over format. With the talent and strokes he possesses, Sharma is not a permanent member of Indian test squad. He can take the game away from the opposition and give team India a chance to post a massive total.