The ODI format allows batters to take some time and unleash their wrath once they are set on the pitch. Over the years, many batters have displayed remarkable performances by notching up the highest scores.
Smashing a double hundred in ODI cricket is not everyone’s cup of tea. And a handful of cricketers have breached the mark in the 50-over format.
Here, in this article, we’ll look at the first player from each country who scored a double century in ODIs.
Sachin Tendulkar (India) | 200* vs South Africa, 2010
India produced the first-ever double centurion in Men’s ODIs, and it was none other than Sachin Tendulkar. The Master Blaster did the most unthinkable thing way back in 2010, that too in front of the home crowd.
Tendulkar showed his masterclass with the bat during the 2nd ODI match against South Africa in Gwalior. Batting first, the Mumbai batter mustered an unbeaten 200 runs off 147 balls, including 24 fours and 3 sixes.
His batting exploits pushed India’s total to 401 runs, which the Indian bowlers defended by 153 runs.
Chris Gayle (West Indies) | 215 vs Zimbabwe, 2015
The mighty Chris Gayle became the first West Indies batter to score a double century in ODIs. What’s special is his knock came in the 2015 Cricket World Cup, making him the first batter to notch up a double ton in the pinnacle tournament.
The explosive Windies batter garnered 215 runs against a hapless Zimbabwean bowling attack in Canberra. Gayle’s strength was in sending the ball into the stands, and it was pretty much on display against Zimbabwe.
In his knock, which came off 147 balls, Gayle hammered 10 fours and 16 towering sixes. His onslaught helped the West Indies beat Zimbabwe by 73 runs.
Martin Guptill (New Zealand) | 237* vs West Indies, 2015
After a month of Gayle’s heroics, the West Indies were on the receiving end as Martin Guptill tore apart their bowling attack. During the 4th Quarter Final of the 2015 World Cup, Guptill whacked an unbeaten 237 in an all-important clash.
With that, he became the first batter from New Zealand to go past the 200-run mark. Moreover, Guptill’s whirlwind knock became the highest individual score in World Cup history.
However, it wasn’t easy for Guptill to reach the mark as wickets fell on the other end at regular intervals. But he stood his ground and brought up the brilliant 237 in 163 balls, including 24 fours and 11 sixes.
Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) | 210* vs Zimbabwe, 2018
Before any Pakistani batter breached 200 runs in ODIs, it was Saeed Anwar who came well within the bounds of that mark. However, Aanwar fell short by 6 runs, as he got out on 194 against India in 1997.
But fast forward to 2018, Pakistan was touring Zimbabwe for an ODI series, and then came Fakhar Zaman, flaunting his array of shots. Zaman, while opening alongside Imam-ul-Haq, provided a solid start to Pakistan and later converted his 100 into a double century.
The Pakistani opener accumulated an unbeaten 210 runs in 156 deliveries, including 24 fours and 5 sixes. And Zaman became the first Pakistani batter to score an ODI double century.
Also Read | Top 10: Greatest ODI World Cup Batting Performances
Glenn Maxwell (Australia) | 201* vs Afghanistan, 2023
There is a popular saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” which sits well with Glenn Maxwell’s mind-blowing knock. Coming in to bat at 49/4 and facing a hat-trick ball straight up, who would’ve thought Maxwell would take his side over the ropes?
The underdogs, Afghanistan, were up against world champions Australia. The Afghans put on a collective effort, first with the bat and later with the ball, until Maxwell arrived on the scene.
With the team in a tricky situation, Maxwell held his ground despite experiencing cramps in the humid Mumbai weather. On that day, the world witnessed the ‘Mad Max’ show as he whacked an unbeaten 201, helping Australia chase down 292 runs.
Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka) | 210* vs Afghanistan, 2024
A little over 3 months after Maxwell’s thunderous knock, Afghanistan’s bowlers suffered the assault from Pathum Nissanka. The Sri Lankan opener demonstrated his batting skills to notch up the country’s first-ever ODI double ton in the presence of the great Sanath Jayasuriya.
Nissanka, playing in his 50th ODI, scored a memorable unbeaten 210 off 139 balls. No one thought that Nissanka would go on to achieve this remarkable feat, but he did it by outperforming his fellow countrymen.
Final Words
Players from some countries haven’t yet breached the 200-run mark, but expect a few prominent players to hammer double centuries in the coming days.
