The ODI format, with a mixture of Test and T20I, gives ample time to batters to unleash their talent and skills on the pitch. Batters take their time to get a decent start and convert it into a huge score, preferably a century or a double century.
A handful of batters have notched up double centuries in ODIs, but a few have racked up 200 at a young age.
Many youngsters come through the ranks and get chances to rub their shoulders with the elites of the game. But a fistful of them make noises by accumulating significant milestones early in their careers to leave an indelible mark.
Here we’ll look at the 5 youngest batters who have scored double centuries in ODIs.
1. Shubman Gill, India | 23 years and 132 days
Shubman Gill had scored a century 3 days before the first ODI against New Zealand. But now he was eyeing an even bigger score in Hyderabad on 18 January 2023.
Gill provided a decent start to India, along with Rohit Sharma. Once he reached his fifty, India was 3 down, but that didn’t stop him from hammering the Kiwi bowlers.
Wickets were falling on the other end at regular intervals, but he continued his onslaught. At a point, Gill was batting on 182, and then he whacked a hattrick of sixes to bring up his 200 in style.
As he achieved the landmark, Gill became the youngest batter to score a double century in ODIs. He broke the month-old record set by teammate Ishan Kishan to claim the top spot.
Gill lost his wicket in the 50th over, scoring 208 runs in 149 balls, which included 19 fours and 9 sixes.
2. Ishan Kishan, India | 24 years and 145 days
Before Shubman Gill’s carnage, it was Ishan Kishan who left everyone awestruck in the third ODI against Bangladesh in December 2022.
Kishan didn’t feature in the first 2 ODIs of the series. But captain Rohit Sharma’s unavailability due to injury meant Kishan opened the batting with Shikhar Dhawan in the last match.
The left-hander made the most of the opportunity and hammered a brilliant double ton to help India avoid a series white-wash. Kishan brought up his double hundred in 126 balls and further added 10 runs to end a once-in-a-lifetime knock on 210 runs.
Also Read | First Player from Each Country to Score ODI Double Centuries
3. Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka | 25 years and 267 days
Pathum Nissanka became the first Sri Lankan batter to breach the 200-run mark in ODIs. And he did so at the age of 25 years and 267 days to claim the third spot on this list.
In his 49 ODI match career before his 200, he had shown his flair in several matches. But it was in his 50th ODI that Nissanka decided to put on a splendid batting show.
In the first ODI against Afghanistan in February 2024, Nissanka smacked an unbeaten 210 runs in 139 balls. The mighty knock included 20 fours and 8 towering sixes.
4. Rohit Sharma, India | 26 years and 186 days
Rohit Sharma is the only batter to have notched up 3 double centuries in ODIs. Out of those, his first double ton came at the age of 26 years and 186 days.
2013 was a remarkable year for the Hitman, as it changed his fortune for good. The same year, Sharma had started regularly opening for India, and his blistering knock of 209 runs against Australia cemented his position in the team.
Sharma became the third batsman after Tendulkar and Sehwag to accumulate 200+ runs in an ODI game. And later, he went on to score 2 more double tons, both against Sri Lanka.
Also Read | Five Reasons that make Rohit Sharma a Special Batsman
5. Fakhar Zaman, Pakistan | 28 years and 101 days
Fakhar Zaman broke Saeed Anwar’s record of the highest individual score for Pakistan in ODIs and went on to tonk an unbeaten 210 against Zimbabwe. When Zaman reached the double hundred in 2018, he was 28 years and 101 days old.
The opener was on a roll against Zimbabwe, as he etched the first-ever double century for Pakistan in ODIs. His swashbuckling knock helped Pakistan post their highest team total (399/1) in the format.
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