Kolkata, India: Rohit Sharma on Thursday created history by hitting the highest individual One Day International (ODI) score with an incredible knock of 264 to power India to a mammoth 404 for five in their fourth match against Sri Lanka here.
Returning after a 10-week injury layoff, everything went right for Sharma after he was dropped on four, as he paced his innings beautifully before exploding against the hapless looking Lankan attack, smashing a 173-ball 264 studded with 33 boundaries and nine sixes at the Eden Gardens.
In the process, Sharma also broke his compatriot Virender Sehwag’s ODI record of 219 runs, which he set against West Indies in 2011.
Sharma became the firsty batsman to register two double centuries in ODIs. He also hit a record number of boundaries during his innings.
Opener Sharma hit Nuwan Kulasekara for four with an elegant cover drive to make his the fourth innings overall to reach the double ton.
It seemed Sharma went into the middle never to return as he was dropped two more times after completing the double century en route to surpassing his previous best of 209 against Australia in Bangalore last year.
Sharma batted the full 50 overs and got out to the last ball of the innings, with Lanka’s most experienced player Mahela Jayawardene catching him at long-off.
He received a guard of honour from his teammates while leaving the field at the venue that is celebrating 150 years.
This total also became the highest ODI score at Eden Gardens as India bettered their previous best of 317, which was also against Sri Lanka, in 2009.
In the middle, stand-in skipper Virat Kohli supported Sharma well with a 64-ball 66 before getting run-out.
Opting to bat, India were 56 for two, but Sharma and Kohli looked untroubled by the Lankan attack and the duo put on 202 runs together off 155 balls for the third wicket to take the match away from Sri Lanka.
Sharma also shared a 128-run partnership with Robin Uthappa (16).
India had already wrapped up victory in the five-match series by winning the first three matches.
