In One Day International (ODI), scoring 200 or more runs is something very special and infrequent and showcases amazing batting in short-form cricket. While once thought to be unachievable in the 50-over format of the game, with the introduction of aggressive batting techniques and improved pitches, combined with new ways of thinking by modern athletes, the feat has now become a possibility.
This article reviews how the record of 200+ runs came into being and some of the incredible contributions made by players who have accomplished this feat, including Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, along with changes to the game through time and whether these monumental scores can occur in the future.
Double Century in ODI: Detailed List
The list shows all the names of the outstanding players known to score a double century in ODIs. India dominates the list with six players and highlights the importance of the consistency of Indian players.
| Player | Team | Number of 200s | Highest Score |
| Rohit Sharma | India | 3 | 264 |
| Martin Guptill | New Zealand | 1 | 237* |
| Virender Sehwag | India | 1 | 219 |
| Chris Gayle | West Indies | 1 | 215 |
| Fakhar Zaman | Pakistan | 1 | 210* |
| Pathum Nissanka | Sri Lanka | 1 | 210* |
| Ishan Kishan | India | 1 | 210 |
| Shubman Gill | India | 1 | 208 |
| Glenn Maxwell | Australia | 1 | 201* |
| Sachin Tendulkar | India | 1 | 200* |
First Double Century in ODI
A landmark 200* scored in a One Day International (ODI) by Sachin Tendulkar against South Africa.
Sachin Tendulkar made history when he became the first player in cricket to score a double century in ODIs with an unbeaten 200* at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior during a match against South Africa.
The strong bowler group led by Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell faced Tendulkar as he made his runs. Tendulkar hit a six from Steyn on the 3rd ball of the final over to secure his second century. He hit 25 fours and 3 sixes off 147 balls, leading India to 401 runs and victory by 153 runs over South Africa. With this achievement, he also overtook Saeed Anwar’s previous record with his prior score of 199.
It was no mere coincidence that Tendulkar scored a double-century in this match. At the age of 36, Tendulkar played intelligently on a flat surface where the boundaries were relatively short. He reinforced his status as an elite ODI player while at the same time silencing his critics. This match ushered in the new era of ODI cricket, whereby players could now record double centuries and begin to experience the next wave of performance within the format.
| Stat | Value |
| Runs | 200* |
| Balls Faced | 147 |
| Fours (4s) | 25 |
| Sixes (6s) | 3 |
| Strike Rate | 136.05 |
| Singles | 56 |
| Twos | 13 |
| Dot Balls | 50 |
| 50s Milestones | 33 off 25 balls |
| Century Milestone | 100 off 90 balls (13×4) |
| 150 Milestone | 150 off 118 balls (22×4, 1×6) |
| Player of the Match | Yes |
The Record Breaker: Rohit Sharma’s Triple 200s (Most Double Centuries in ODI)
Rohit Sharma has the record for the most ODI double centuries, with three in total, showing his skill as a top-order batsman. His first double century came on November 2, 2013, when he played against Australia in Bengaluru. He scored 209 runs off 158 balls, hitting 12 fours and 16 sixes, helping India reach 383/6. Even when things were tough at the start, Rohit stayed calm and used his pull shots and lofted covers to beat the Australian bowlers.
Rohit then set a new record for the highest individual ODI score, making 264 off 173 balls against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens on November 13, 2014.
That innings featured 33 fours and 9 sixes, and India finished on 404/5. His third double century came in 2017, on December 13, when he scored 208 off 153 balls against Sri Lanka in Mohali, again without being out. These performances show how well Rohit can control the game from the start, combining confidence with reliability, and prove why he is considered the best aggressive opener in ODI cricket.
| Stats | Value |
| Runs | 209 |
| Balls Faced | 158 |
| Fours (4s) | 12 |
| Sixes (6s) | 16 |
| Strike Rate | 132 |
| India Total | 383/6 (50 overs) |
| Result | India won |
Fastest Double Century in ODI
Ishan Kishan- Indian wicketkeeper-batsman holds the record for the fastest double century in ODI. He scored a total of 210 runs in just 131 balls, surpassing the records of the great Chris Gayle (200 runs in 138 balls). He is a very powerful player for Team India and is becoming a great asset for the team to make more such records in the upcoming matches. As he has scored the fastest century in ODI, his record is still unbreakable.
| Stat | Value |
| Player | Ishan Kishan (India) |
| Runs | 210 |
| Balls Faced | 131 |
| Balls for 200 | 126 (fastest ever) |
| Fours (4s) | 24 |
| Sixes (6s) | 10 |
| Strike Rate | 160.31 |
| Opponent | Bangladesh |
| Venue | Chattogram |
| Date | 10 Dec 2022 |
| India Total | 409/8 |
| Result | India won by 227 runs |
Why Double Centuries Became Possible After 2010?
Ball Type: From 2008 onwards, a 2-ball system was implemented into each innings, which enabled batsmen to bat longer periods of time as reverse swing was reduced & bowlers were forced to bowl with less control.
Bowlers vs. Fielders: Bowlers lost their edge against batters due to new rules creating more scoring opportunities through exclusive pitches and dimensions being more favourable to scoring.
Increased Equipment diversity & Mindset change of batters: Since batters are now hitting hard with some new techniques. Some of the old historic batting styles are now shifted to the newer styles. Since 2010, Sachin Tendulkar has brought confidence to the minds of future batters that they can also score this much in limited overs.
Power-hitting examples: Chris Gayle scored 215 with 16 sixes; Rohit Sharma scored 264 with a total of 42 boundaries.
Historical note: It is noted that most of the scores are made against some of the weaker teams, like Zimbabwe. Players got a huge push to score freely against some low-scale bowlers and make records with full power. Other than that, the scores were made on batting-friendly grounds.
Impact on Teams, Records, and Global Fandom
- Guptill scored 237 not out in a World Cup quarter-final and helped New Zealand advance to the semi-finals. Rohit’s 264 contributed to a victorious margin of 153 runs. These large scores also helped players’ confidence to an extent that India won all six matches in which one or more players scored over 200 runs.
- Considering the records, Rohit Sharma has the highest score and the most number of double centuries. Ishan Kishan scored the fastest double century from the least amount of balls, i.e., 131 and Chris Gayle scored his double century after the second fastest, 138 balls.
- Globally, these innings have attracted popularity. As an example, Sachin Tendulkar’s two hundred was trending worldwide, and Glenn Maxwell’s 201 not out in a World Cup game created much fanfare.
- Over the past year, fan interaction has risen significantly; the success of Virender Sehwag’s innings of 219 is evidenced by the millions of views on YouTube, which stimulated discussions regarding the method in which T20 matches are revolutionising the game of cricket.
- As the ODI format continues to evolve with the T20 format taking over, the statistics regarding double centuries continue to show the global appeal of watching amazing individual feats accomplished in the game of cricket.
The Future: Can Records be Broken?
In the past, scoring 200 or more runs in a single One-Day International (ODI) was an accomplishment believed to be virtually unattainable; however, it has since evolved into one of the most significant feats in cricket. Thanks to the skillset possessed by players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, and Rohit Sharma, scoring more than 200 in a one-day inning has become a reality when combined with the right circumstances and a fearless brand of cricket. The question remains: can any of these records be beaten?
As cricket continues to evolve, so do the boundaries of what cricketers can achieve in limited-overs cricket. Batting techniques are improving, players hit the ball harder and with more power, they are fitter than ever before, and they have access to improved wicket conditions. Players such as Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill are already proving that they have the potential to perform at this level and that the anticipation of future players being able to surpass these milestones is realistic, with the possibility of even breaking the 300-run barrier in an ODI.
In addition to hitting the ball hard and making the records official, achieving these marks will require consistent performances, the right type of playing conditions and the mental fortitude to remain focused when there is pressure. The game of cricket is changing rapidly, and as such, the limits of what can be accomplished will be pushed further with every generation of cricketers.
