Over the course of a 25-year career in international cricket, Sachin Tendulkar has achieved several firsts and pushed the boundaries of the sport, most notably the limited-over format of the game. However, 12 years ago on this day, Superman of India became the first man to hit a double hundred in ODI cricket as he once again showed the way to achieve the improbable.
Sachin Tendulkar broke the joint record of Chris Coventry of Zimbabwe and Saeed Anwar of Pakistan when he surpassed the magic number of 194 to hit the double hundred against South Africa in the 2nd of a 3 game ODi series in Gwalior.
Tendulkar hit the milestone in just 147 deliveries, grabbing a single in the last over of the Indian innings as the hosts posted 401 for 3 in 50 overs. Tendulkar hit 25 fours and three sixes and carried the racquet, enjoying the standing ovation he received from the dressing room and crowd.
As the Master Blaster pinched this groundbreaking single and looked up to the heavens to give thanks to the Almighty, acclaimed commentator Ravi Shastri took to the mic to give the moment a fitting boost in his own schedule style. Tendulkar was flawless in the historic batting as he dominated a powerful South African attack that had the likes of Dale Steyn and Jacques Kallis.
“First human on the planet to hit 200 and it’s the superman from India – Sachin Tendulkar 200 out of 147. Take a bow master,” Shastri said on air.
#On this day in 2010
The legendary @sachin_rt engraved his name in the record books when he became the first batsman to hit a double ton in ODIs (men).
Let’s relive this special hit of the hit master https://t.co/i9vCBxzhA6 pic.twitter.com/1LRbuYVe8K
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2022
Almost 30,000 people in the stands were able to see Tendulkar weaving magic in the 2nd ODI of the home series against South Africa. Tendulkar’s previous best was 186 not in November 1999 in Hyderabad against New Zealand.
5 batsmen have since scored double hundreds in ODI cricket, but the man who led the way and broke a longstanding Anwar record was Sachin Tendulkar.
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Meanwhile, 5 years later, Chris Gayle, the great West Indian, set a world record when he became the first man to break the double hundred in a World Cup game. Gayle’s 215 against Zimbabwe came in Canberra exactly 5 years after Tendulkar first surpassed 200 runs.
Gayle had achieved his first ODI double hundred in just 138 balls. He finished with 215 in 147 balls, smashing 16 sixes and 10 boundaries.
Batters with double hundred in men’s ODIs
Rohit Sharma – 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014
Martin Guptill – 237* against West Indies in 2015
Virender Sehwag – 219 against West Indies in 2011
Chris Gayle – 215 v Zimbabwe (World Cup) in 2015
Fakhar Zaman – 210* vs Zimbabwe in 2018
Rohit Sharma – 209 against Australia in 2013
Rohit Sharma – 208* v Sri Lanka in Mohali
Sachin Tendulkar – 200* v South Africa in Gwalior
