Since the turn of the century, batters have defied the odds and smashed mighty scores in limited-overs cricket.
When it comes to ODI cricket, batters need to find the right balance between anchoring and accelerating their innings to get a huge score.
Some notable batters have racked up towering knocks, showcasing their top-notch batsmanship.
Here, we’ll list the top 5 highest individual scores smashed in ODI cricket.
5. Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) | 210* vs Zimbabwe, 2018
In 2018, Fakhar Zaman amassed an unbeaten 210 runs in 156 balls against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. He became the first Pakistani and overall the 6th batter to hammer a double ton in ODI cricket.
Pakistan decided to bat first in the 4th ODI of the 5-match series. Zaman opened the batting along with Imam-ul-Haq and romped their way to forge a 304-run partnership for the 1st wicket.
He played the role of an anchor and aggressor to perfection. Zaman completed his hundred off 92 balls and then changed his gears.
The left-arm batter went on a rampage, smashing boundaries at his will across the park. Zaman brought up his double century in 148 deliveries.
He remained not out on 210 runs, surpassing Saeed Anwar’s 194 to register the highest individual score for Pakistan in ODIs.
4. Chris Gayle (West Indies) | 215 vs Zimbabwe, 2015
The Universe Boss Chris Gayle hammered 215 runs against Zimbabwe on the grand stage of the 2015 ODI World Cup. Smashing huge scores was not alien to Gayle, but to do so in a World Cup match was something special.
After electing to bat first, the West Indies lost their first wicket on the second ball. Gayle, who was standing on the other end, knew he had a huge responsibility, and boy, did he deliver!
Gayle was going run-a-ball till the halfway mark, finding occasional boundaries and taking singles. He got to his hundred in 105 balls, and then he freed himself from the cage.
Gayle started dealing in fours and sixes in the death overs, increasing the Windies’ scoring rate. He scored his next 100 runs in just 33 balls to bring up the first double century in an ODI World Cup match.
Gayle fell on the last ball of the innings, bowing out with a score of 215 off 147 balls, which included 10 fours and 16 sixes.
Also Read | Top 10: Greatest ODI World Cup Batting Performances
3. Virender Sehwag (India): 219 vs West Indies, 2011
After Sachin Tendulkar’s unbeaten 200 against South Africa in 2010, Virender Sehwag became the second Indian to score a double century in ODI cricket.
He was captaining India against the West Indies in the 4th ODI in 2011. He opted to bat first and opened the innings along with Gautam Gambhir.
Sehwag started his knock in his usual style by smacking boundaries. The Nawab of Najafgarh didn’t spare any bowlers, taking them to the cleaners.
Sehwag raced to his century off 69 balls with a fiery four. He kept the attack mode on and reached the double ton in 140 balls.
Sehwag fell to Kieron Pollard in the 47th over, scoring 219 runs in 149 deliveries, including 25 fours and 7 sixes.
2. Martin Guptill (New Zealand) | 237* vs West Indies, 2015
Another opener on this list, and he is far from New Zealand. Martin Guptill smoked an unbeaten 237 runs against the West Indies in the 2015 ODI World Cup, a month after Gayle’s maniac knock against Zimbabwe.
It was an important match for both sides as they were looking to advance to the semi-finals. In the 4th quarter-final, co-hosts New Zealand decided to bat first.
Early on in the innings, Guptill got a huge relief as Marlon Samuels dropped his catch. The Kiwi opener cashed in on the opportunity with both hands.
He crammed boundaries occasionally on his way to hundred, taking 111 balls to the milestone. Then Guptill accelerated his innings, fetching fours and sixes with ease.
He completed his double hundred in 152 balls and remained unbeaten on 237 runs, smashing 24 fours and 11 sixes.
1. Rohit Sharma (India) | 264 vs Sri Lanka, 2014
When Virender Sehwag scored his double ton in 2011, Rohit Sharma was standing on the other end. Who would have thought Rohit would surpass Sehwag to register the highest individual score in ODI cricket?
In 2014, India were taking on Sri Lanka in the 4th ODI at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Batting first, Rohit Sharma churned out one of the best knocks in 50-over cricket.
The Mumbai opener got a couple of lifelines in his innings and made the most out of them. He scored a run-a-ball hundred before turning on his attack mode.
Rohit took on the Sri Lankan bowlers, smashing them for boundaries. He raced away to his second ODI double hundred in 151 deliveries.
Rohit was making a comeback to the squad after recovering from an injury, and he made it memorable. He got out on the last ball of the innings, accumulating 264 in 173 balls — the highest individual score in ODIs.
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