India vs Sri Lanka 4th ODI: Rohit Sharma Scores Rare Double Century, Breaks World Record

The ongoing one-day series between India and Sri Lanka has been a total one-sided affair thus far, with India consistently getting the better of the Lankans. The trend seems to be continuing in the fourth One Day International as well.

In the ongoing match at Kolkata’s famed Eden Gardens, India gained the upper hand after it managed to score an imposing total of 404 for the Sri Lankans to chase. Even by today’s 20-20 standards, a total of 404 is daunting. The prime reason for India reaching that total was Rohit Sharma’s devastating knock of 264 off just 173 balls — a new One Day International world record. Rohit Sharma broke a couple of ODI records following his historic knock, reports Cricinfo.

With a score of 264, Rohit Sharma is now 45 runs ahead of Virender Sehwag, who until today held the record with a top score of 219. Rohit Sharma is also the only cricketer who has scored two double centuries in One Day Internationals, according to BBC News. He had scored 209 in 2013 against Australia in 2013. He bested his effort with today’s record-breaking innings. Incidentally, all the batsmen who have scored double hundreds thus far in One Day matches are Indians. The first person to achieve that milestone was Sachin Tendulkar, who did it in 2010 against South Africa. This was followed by Virender Sehwag in 2011. The other two have come from the bat of Rohit Sharma.

What began as a sedate, run-a-ball innings for India until the 32nd over turned around after the blitzkrieg by Rohit. Before he decided to accelerate, Rohit was also scoring a run every ball. India finished at 404 with the loss of five wickets by the end of the allotted 50 overs. At the end of the carnage, Rohit had managed to hit 33 fours and nine sixes – with the best one coming off Nuwan Kulashekara in the end of the 48th over.

In an earlier warm up match played between Bombay and Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma scored 142 from 111. That was his first match after recovering from a finger injury in August. This was also the comeback match for Rohit Sharma — and what a way to come back!

At the time of filing this report, the Sri Lankans, decimated by the Rohit Sharma onslaught, are tottering at 108 for the loss of four wickets. Being the unpredictable game that is cricket, there is still a chance of Sri Lanka pulling off an unlikely victory. The odds, however, are heavily stacked in favor of India.

[Image Via BBC, SportsWorldNews]