Cricket’s traditional limited-overs format, the ODI, may have lost its shine to the much newer T20 format, but still, it has a great history behind it. The game of cricket was first played on a World Cup stage in 1975; since then, the 50-Overs version has gained much prominence. Much had to do with the competitiveness with which the game has been played in the last 5 decades.
The game of ODI cricket has improved leaps & bounds in those years, and this includes shattering all the pre-existing records as well as creating new ones. Moreover, many legendary players have made a name for themselves in the world of cricket due to their breathtaking performances in the longest white-ball format of the game.
We will take a sneak peek at some of them – the below list is the top 10 ODI scores of all time by an individual in a winning cause.
#1 Rohit Sharma – 264(173) vs Sri Lanka, 13th November 2014, Kolkata
Rohit Sharma played one of the greatest ODI innings of all time at the Mecca of Indian Cricket, Eden Gardens, on an eventful November evening. Coming from an injury lay-off, Rohit benefitted from a reprieve early in the innings and cashed in to play a blinder of an innings against a hapless Sri Lankan bowling attack. This was the Indian skipper’s 2nd ODI double-century and showed the world why he was regarded as one of the best limited-overs openers in the modern era. This remains the top ODI score by a player in history, and it is doubtful that anyone will sur it soon. This also is the longest a batsman has batted in an ODI innings in of balls faced.
Match Result: India posted a mammoth score of 404/5, and the Lankans, in their response, could manage only 251, losing the game by 153 runs.
#2 Martin Guptill – 237*(163) vs West Indies, 21st March 2015, Hamilton
The New Zealand opener Martin Guptill smashed the West Indies bowlers to all corners of the Westpac Stadium during his epic knock of unbeaten 237. This included 11 sixes and 24 boundaries which propelled the hosts’ New Zealand score to 393/5 in a World Cup Quarter Final game. With the win, New Zealand reached their first-ever World Cup final, which Australia eventually won. 237 remains the highest-ever individual score in ODI World Cup.
Bonus: Guptill is the fastest batsman to hit 150 ODI sixes. Check how many innings he took to reach the feat compared with other greats.
Match Result: Despite a whirlwind start from Chris Gayle, West Indies could manage only 250 in pursuing this huge score.
#3 Virender Sehwag – 219(149) vs West Indies, 8th December 2011, Indore
Virender Sehwag ed the highest-ever score by a captain in an ODI when he made a stunning 219 against the West Indies at the Holker Stadium in Indore. With this knock that included 25 fours and 7 sixes, Sehwag became the 2nd ever male player in the history of ODI cricket to score a double century after the legendary Sachin Tendulkar. The 25 fours hit by Virender Sehwag is positioned 2nd in the list of batters with most fours hit in a single ODI innings.
Match Result: This knock helped India score a huge 418, enough for the host to win the game as they bowled out the Windies for a mere 265 in the 2nd innings.
#4 Chris Gayle – 215(147) vs Zimbabwe, 24th February 2015, Canberra
Chris Gayle made the first-ever double century in the history of the ODI World Cup in the 2015 edition. The Universe boss mauled the Zimbabwean bowling hitting a massive 16 sixes and 10 boundaries to complete a great double century. West Indies made 372/2 in that World Cup Group B game and won the fixture comfortably by 73 runs.
Match Result: With this, Chris Gayle became the only player in history to complete a triple of making 300 in Tests, 200 in ODIs, and 100 in T20Is.
#5 Fakhar Zaman – 210*(156) vs Zimbabwe, 20th July 2018, Bulawayo
Fakhar Zaman entered the record books when he became the first and only batsman from Pakistan to score a double century in ODI cricket. He did so against Zimbabwe, who had entered the list for the 2nd time. The left-hander hit 5 sixes and 24 boundaries in his breathtaking knock of 210 and posted Pakistan’s highest-ever ODI score of 399/1.
Match Result: The game at Bulawayo was one-sided as the hosts’ Zimbabwe, were bundled out for just 155 in their run chase.
#6 Ishan Kishan – 210 (131) vs Bangladesh, 10th December 2022, Chattogram
The sixth Indian ODI double century from the youngster came in the last match of the 3-match ODI series in Bangladesh. Ishan Kishan, replacing the injured Rohit Sharma, ensured he took full advantage of the opportunity. Despite India losing the first two games and, thus, the series, Ishan Kishan made some great shots to bring on his first-ever ODI double ton that included 24 fours and 10 sixes.
Ishan added 290 for the 2nd wicket along with the legendary Virat Kohli, who scored his 44th ODI century in the same game.
Match Result: India scored a massive 409/8 and bowled brilliantly to wrap up Bangladesh at the score of 182, thereby winning the game by 227 runs.
#7 Rohit Sharma – 209(158) vs Australia, 2nd November 2013, Bengaluru
This was the innings that announced the arrival of Rohit Sharma, the opener of India’s white-ball team, and skyrocketed his career after an indifferent start. The “Hitman”, as he is now called, hammered the Aussie bowling attack to all corners at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on that particular day, scoring a stroke-filled 209 off just 158 balls, becoming the 3rd Indian to breach the incredible double century mark in ODIs. He hit 16 sixes and 12 fours en route to 1st of 3 double centuries.
Match Result: India scored a huge 383/6 thanks to the Indian captain, and it proved to be a steep target for the visitors, who made a bold 326 in the chase, thus winning the hard-fought series 4-2.
Bonus: Teams with Most 400+ Scores in ODI
