A double century in ODIs was once considered unthinkable due to the format's constraints. However, modern cricket, with its innovations in power-hitting and aggressive batting, has seen a surge in these monumental scores. Here are the specific records of the Fastest 200 in ODI list.
Ishan Kishan (India) – 126 Balls
Match: India vs Bangladesh (Chattogram, 2022)
Kishan's batting style: Explosive from the get-go, Ishan Kishan's double century came at a breathtaking pace. His aggressive intent is characterized by powerful shots all around the ground, making him one of the most exciting young talents.
Glenn Maxwell (Australia) – 128 Balls
Match: Australia vs Afghanistan (Wankhede, 2023)
Maxwell's batting style: Maxwell is known for his innovative shots and the ability to hit boundaries from improbable angles. His innings in Wankhede showcased his flair for the unorthodox.
Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka) – 134 Balls
Match: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan (Pallekele, 2024)
Nissanka's batting style: A classical batsman, Nissanka combines technique with aggression. His double century demonstrated maturity and an understanding of the game situation.
Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 138 Balls
Match: West Indies vs Zimbabwe (Canberra, 2015)
Gayle's batting style: A legend of power hitting, Gayle's double ton was a masterclass in brute force. His ability to clear boundaries with ease makes him one of the most dangerous limited-overs batsmen in history.
Virender Sehwag (India) – 140 Balls
Match: India vs West Indies (Indore, 2011)
Sehwag's batting style: Aggressive and fearless, Sehwag redefined opening in ODIs with his relentless attack on bowlers. His double century was a natural extension of his usual swashbuckling style.
Shubman Gill (India) – 145 Balls
Match: India vs New Zealand (Hyderabad, 2023)
Gill's batting style: A more traditional batsman, Gill mixes elegance with aggression. His double century was a calculated innings with an explosion of runs in the later stages.
Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 147 Balls
Match: India vs South Africa (Gwalior, 2010)
Tendulkar's batting style: The first player to score a double century in ODIs, Tendulkar’s innings was built on technical prowess and unmatched precision. His shot selection was immaculate, as always.
Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) – 148 Balls
Match: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe (Bulawayo, 2018)
Fakhar's batting style: Known for his attacking play, Fakhar’s double ton came against Zimbabwe. He utilized the entire ground with his wide range of strokes.
Rohit Sharma (India) – 151 Balls
Match: India vs Sri Lanka (Kolkata, 2014)
Rohit's batting style: Rohit has an effortless style of playing both attacking and elegant shots. His 264, still the highest score in ODI history, demonstrated his ability to accelerate after a steady start.
Rohit Sharma (India) – 153 Balls
Match: India vs Sri Lanka (Mohali, 2017)
Rohit has a penchant for scoring big, and this double century cemented his reputation as one of the finest openers in white-ball cricket.
Martin Guptill (New Zealand) – 153 Balls
Match: New Zealand vs West Indies (Wellington, 2015)
Guptill's double century came during the 2015 World Cup, where his powerful hitting dismantled the West Indies' bowling attack.
Rohit Sharma (India) – 156 Balls
Match: India vs Australia (Bangalore, 2013)
Rohit Sharma's third double century is a testament to his ability to pace his innings before unleashing a flurry of boundaries towards the end.
The above players performed well with the bat, especially Rohit Sharma, who scored double centuries thrice in ODIs. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan holds the record for the fastest double century, achieved in the fewest balls. The performances of these players are truly commendable.
Apart from the fastest 200 runs batsman records, we can also take a look at the list of fastest bowlers to take 200 wickets in One-Day Internationals (ODIs), which is a testament to the consistency and skills of these cricketers. Achieving this milestone requires long-term consistency and the ability to take wickets quickly. Here are some of the fastest records to reach 200 ODI wickets:
Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 102 Matches
Time: 11 years, 318 days
Match: Australia vs Zimbabwe (September 2022)
Starc's bowling style: A left-arm fast bowler known for his lethal yorkers and swing, Starc leads the list of the fastest to 200 wickets. His raw pace, combined with accuracy, makes him a nightmare for batsmen, particularly in death overs.
Saqlain Mushtaq (Pakistan) – 104 Matches
Time: 3 years, 249 days
Match: Pakistan vs South Africa (June 1999)
Saqlain's bowling style: A pioneer of the "doosra," Saqlain Mushtaq's off-spin was a game-changer in the late 1990s. His ability to deceive batsmen with variations and subtle changes in flight made him a potent force in ODIs.
Trent Boult (New Zealand) – 107 Matches
Time: 11 years, 99 days
Match: New Zealand vs Bangladesh (October 2023)
Boult's bowling style: Boult is a left-arm fast bowler, renowned for his swing, especially with the new ball. He has been a vital cog in New Zealand's bowling attack for over a decade.
Brett Lee (Australia) – 112 Matches
Time: 5 years, 184 days
Match: Australia vs India (January 2005)
Lee's bowling style: Lee was one of the fastest bowlers in the world, regularly clocking over 150 km/h. His blistering pace, combined with his aggressive attitude, made him one of the most feared fast bowlers.
Allan Donald (South Africa) – 117 Matches
Time: 7 years, 200 days
Match: South Africa vs Zimbabwe (May 1999)
Donald's bowling style: Known as 'White Lightning,' Allan Donald was a right-arm fast bowler with a smooth, intimidating run-up. He was one of the finest fast bowlers from South Africa during the 1990s.
Waqar Younis (Pakistan) – 118 Matches
Time: 6 years, 147 days
Match: Pakistan vs India (March 1996)
Waqar's bowling style: Waqar was famous for his reverse swing and his ability to bowl toe-crushing yorkers. Alongside Wasim Akram, he formed one of the most lethal bowling pairs in cricket history.
Shaun Pollock (South Africa) – 144 Matches
Time: 8 years, 243 days
Match: South Africa vs India (October 2001)
Pollock's bowling style: A seam-bowling all-rounder, Pollock combined accuracy with seam movement to dismantle batsmen. His discipline with the ball allowed him to maintain consistent pressure.
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 138 Matches
Time: 7 years, 76 days
Match: Sri Lanka vs India (October 2000)
Muralitharan's bowling style: The most prolific wicket-taker in international cricket, Murali's unorthodox spin was almost impossible to read. His record of 800 Test wickets is unparalleled.