ODI cricket has changed a lot over the years. From 60 overs to 50 overs and then with the different kinds of powerplays in cricket, the batters have had to change their game right through. With the emergence of T20 cricket, a lot of impossible things seemed possible, even in the ODI format. However, someone would even think of it: Sachin Tendulkar became the first ever player to breach the 200-run mark barrier in the format.

He did so in 2008, smashing the first-ever double-century in ODIs against South Africa. Since then, the feat has become common, with nine more batters scoring a double ton and Rohit Sharma alone smashing three. 

Interestingly, when all cricket is considered, the first-ever double century came in Women’s cricket. Australia’s legendary player Belinda Clark scored an unbeaten 229 against Denmark way back in 1997. When it comes to men’s cricket, it took 13 more years to breach the landmark.

After Belinda, only one woman cricketer managed to score a double-century, and she is New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr. She smacked an unbeaten 232 against Ireland off just 145 balls with 31 fours and a couple of sixes in Dublin on June 13, 2018. Her effort still remains the best in Women’s cricket. In fact, her 232 is the third-highest individual score in one-day cricket history, with both men and women included, with Rohit Sharma and Martin Guptill in the top two positions.

While many are aware of the players who have scored 200 runs in their innings in ODIs, we rank them by how fast they breached the magical milestone.

Fastest Double Century in ODI Cricket

The fastest double hundreds in ODI history tell us more about the power of modern-day batters given the number of players who occupy the list from 2010s onwards. Below is a comprehensive list of players with fastest 200s in ODIs.

10. Rohit Sharma (151 balls) vs. Sri Lanka in 2017

Scoring a double-century in ODIs isn’t new for Rohit Sharma, and by 2017, he had already done it twice. Yet again, he took a liking to Sri Lanka’s bowlers in 2017, and this time, he chose Mohali as the venue to showcase his bat heroics. He completed his third double-century in ODIs off just 151 balls and created history.

After opening the innings, Rohit made sure to bat for the entirety of the innings and remained unbeaten on 208 with 13 fours and 12 sixes to his name. A 212-minute masterclass was a treat to the jam-packed stadium in Mohali as the fans enjoyed his knock to the hilt. Needless to say, on the back of his innings, India ended up winning the game easily with 141 runs.

9. Rohit Sharma (151 balls) vs Sri Lanka in 2014

This is an absolutely special knock from Rohit Sharma. His third one in this aspect turned out to be among record-breaking double-centuries in ODI cricket. Rohit smashed a staggering 264 runs in this innings after reaching the 200-run mark in 151 balls. He did so with 33 fours and nine sixes, much to the delight of the fans at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

It was an absolute exhibition of hitting in modern-day cricket as the Hitman literally toyed with the Sri Lankan bowlers. Rohit stayed at the crease for the entire innings after opening and was only dismissed on the last ball, but not before creating the record of the highest-ever individual score in the 50-over form of the game.

However, when it comes to scoring the fastest double ton in the format, this knock is at the 9th place.

8. Fakhar Zaman (148 balls) vs. Zimbabwe in 2018

Fakhar Zaman is the first and only Pakistan player to have scored a double-century in ODIs. What makes the innings even more special is that it came away from home. He completed his double ton off just 148 balls and sits in 8th place on this list. Zimbabwe bowlers were in the firing line of Fakhar as he smashed his way to score 210 runs with 24 fours and five sixes in Bulawayo.

The left-hander was aggressive right from the word go on July 20 2018, and the opposition bowlers had no answers to his hitting. Thanks to his knock, Pakistan posted a mammoth total of 399 runs in their 50 overs for the loss of only one wicket and ended up winning by 244 runs.

7. Sachin Tendulkar (147 balls) vs South Africa in 2010

Sachin Tendulkar achieved this feat when breaching the 200-run mark seemed absolutely impossible. It remains one of the best record-breaking double centuries in ODI cricket. He did so against a formidable team like South Africa in Gwalior in 2010, and he is still among the players with the fastest 200s in ODIs. The master blaster took 147 balls to reach the magical mark, and the entire nation stood up to him to salute him on the day. 

During his 226-minute unbeaten stay in the middle, Tendulkar smacked the likes of Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell, and Jacques Kallis, among other bowlers, for 25 fours and three sixes. India smashed 401 runs in their innings to eventually win the match by 153 runs. Meanwhile, this magical effort from Sachin is still the seventh-fastest double-hundred in ODI history.

6. Shubman Gill (145 balls) vs New Zealand in 2023

Referred to as the ‘next king’, Shubman Gill became the third Indian player to score a double-century in One-Day Internationals in 2023 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. He crossed the barrier in just 145 balls, making it one of the highest scoring double centuries in ODI matches.

He scored 208 runs off 149 balls during his 225-minute unbeaten stay on the field after opening the innings, smacking 19 fours and nine massive maximums. India posted 349 runs in their 50 overs, but Gill’s effort came very close to becoming the first double-ton in a losing cause as New Zealand came within 12 runs of the target before going down eventually. His iconic gaming talent has gained him a place in the list of God of Cricket in IPL.

5. Virender Sehwag (140 balls) vs West Indies in 2011

It is only fitting that within a couple of years after Sachin Tendulkar did it, his opening partner Virender Sehwag scored a double ton. Known for aggressive batting across formats throughout his career, Sehwag finally found a way to smack a big century, and he did so against the West Indies in Indore in 2011.

He was also the first captain to do so and smashed a double ton in just 140 balls. He was dismissed only in the 47th over of the innings, but not before smashing 219 runs off 149 balls with 25 fours and seven towering sixes. India posted a mammoth total of 418 runs in their 50 overs courtesy of Sehwag’s special effort and eventually won the game by a huge margin of 153 runs.

4. Chris Gayle (138 balls) vs. Zimbabwe in 2015

This list is literally not complete without the Univers Boss. Chris Gayle had to be part of it for the kind of entertainment he has provided to the fans in his illustrious career. He joined the elite list when very few were part of it during the 2015 ODI Cricket World Cup, becoming the first to do so in the mega event.

Gayle’s double ton was also the fastest then, smashing it in just 138 balls against Zimbabwe at the Manuka Oval in Canberra. Overall, he scored 215 runs off 147 balls in 212 minutes at the crease, smashing 10 fours and 16 humongous sixes at a strike rate of 146.25. 

His knock helped the Caribbeans post 372 runs on the board. However, Zimbabwe also made a brave effort before going down by only 73 runs in the encounter. 

3. Pathum Nissanka (136 balls) vs. Afghanistan in 2024

Pathum Nissanka is the latest addition to this elite list, having scored a double hundred in February of this year. Afghanistan were at the receiving end of it as Sri Lanka’s elegant opener rolled back the clock to the early 2000s with his style. Nissanka completed his 200 in just 138 deliveries to be among the players with the fastest 200s in ODIs.

He didn’t get out in the entire innings and remained not out on 210 off just 139 balls, smashing 20 fours and eight sixes at a strike rate of 151.07. Sri Lanka posted a mammoth score of 381 runs on the back of this special effort from Nissanka. Afghanistan tried their best to chase down the target, but their efforts weren’t enough, and they lost the game by 42 runs in the end.

2. Glenn Maxwell (128 balls) vs. Afghanistan in 2023

Glenn Maxwell played arguably one of the best World Cup knocks in 2023 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, with Afghanistan bowlers facing his wrath with the bat. Australia were down and out in the chase of 292 runs at 91/7. But Maxwell had other ideas on that evening as he did the unthinkable to become the first and only non-opener to score a double-century in the One-Day format.

He was not able to run after a point after his hamstring pulled up, but he stood one leg to smash sixes at will. It was just stand-and-deliver stuff from him as he raced his way to a double hundred off just 128 balls with 21 fours and ten sixes at an impeccable strike rate of 157.03. The moment he reached the double ton was the winning shot as well, which made the achievement even more special.

Maxwell’s 201-run unbeaten knock is also the highest ever in a chase in ODIs.

1. Ishan Kishan (126 balls) vs Bangladesh in 2022

Ishan Kishan is the man to register the quickest 200 runs in One Day Internationals. He reached there in just 126 balls against Bangladesh in 2022 at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram. The pace of his innings gave Kishan a great chance to eclipse Rohit Sharma’s highest score of 264 on that day.

He scored 210 runs off 131 balls at a strike rate of 160.30, with 24 fours and ten sixes to his name. He got out in the 36th over, which means that had he hung around for the entire innings, the southpaw could’ve breached the unthinkable 300-run mark as well with his ability to smack the ball at will.

It was indeed a special knock from Kishan as he hit the fastest double century in ODI cricket history. As for the match, India smashed 409 runs in their 50 overs and ended up winning the match easily by a huge margin of 227 runs.

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