KOLKATA: The entire world today witnessed pure class in the form of Rohit Sharma’s flawless innings. Before the start of the play the average first innings score in Kolkata was supposedly 244, however the 27-year-old Mumbai man smashed an unbelievable 264 off 173 balls, which included 33 fours and nine sixes. He now holds the record of the highest individual ODI score, surpassing Virender Sehwag’s 219 which the latter had scored against the West Indies.
Photo Gallery: Top 10 Individual Scores In ODI History
The 150th anniversary of Eden Gardens will be remembered for the incredible feat achieved by Rohit Sharma. Sharma, who made a comeback in the ongoing series against Sri Lanka after he had picked up an injury in England, became the first ever player to score a second One Day International double. His innings was well supported by the stand-in skipper, Virat Kohli, who clinched a decent 66 before getting run out in the 39th over.
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The T20 champions had a golden chance to avoid this storm in the very beginning of the game when Sharma gave an easy catch to Thisara Perera in the fifth over when he was just on a mere total of four. As it is said, catches win matches, the all-rounder will undoubtedly blame himself for the debacle of his team in the hands of one man.
This ODI between India and Sri Lanka has one similarity with India’s final ODI against Australia when the latter toured in October last year. The Mumbai Indians captain even then had made Kohli run out at the Chinnaswamy before becoming the third Indian and cricketer to touch the 200 mark in the shorter format of the sport. When Indian skipper got run-out and walked back to the pavillion annoyed in Eden on Thursday, a lot of Indian fans must have sensed the repetition of the history.
Nevertheless, it was not any other day for a batsman because Sharma simply looked unstoppable. After crossing 200, he aimed the target of 250 fearlessly. And indeed he reached that feat in style, in just 16 balls and by being dropped twice. The very next ball after his 200, Kulasekara gave him a full toss which he pulled it on the leg side.
Seekkuge Prasanna got well under it at the boundary but the ball went through his hands with fingers pointing upwards and bounced once before going for another boundary. The Mumbai batsman made sure he used his lifeline to the fullest and he went on to hit two boundaries and two shots into the stands.
India managed to put 404 runs on board. The visitors more or less know they are going to go 4-0 down in the five-match series, unless a miracle takes place in the Sri Lankan dressing room. In the top 10 highest ODI team scores, India featured fourth time, with today’s score being the ninth highest. Ironically, the opponents hold the record of the highest ODI score of 443, which they scored against the Netherlands in 2006.