Two good on second anniversary: 208 not out

Subhash Rajta

Tribune News service

Mohali, December 13

Rohit Sharma needed nine more runs to get his double hundred when the last over of the Indian innings began at the IS Bindra stadium here on Wednesday. 

It was of course gettable, but he could have missed it too.     However, there was perhaps not a single soul in the far-from-packed stadium who thought Sharma wouldn’t get there. There was an overwhelming sense of inevitability to India’s stand-in skipper getting his third double hundred in ODIs. And how right everyone was! 

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Eventually, Sharma needed just three balls to get to the magic figure — he sent the first ball, a low full toss, over square leg for a six, took two on the next, and a single on the third.

Overjoyed, he punched a hole in the air, raised his arms, waved to the cheering crowd, and blew a kiss to his teary-eyed wife Ritika, watching from one of the enclosures. Today was their wedding anniversary, and Sharma couldn’t have celebrated it any better! 

“It was definitely the best anniversary gift I could have given her,” said Sharma. “It’s not every day that you score a double hundred, so it was nice that she was here to witness it. She got a little emotional… but yes, it’s the best gift.”

Eventually, he remained unbeaten at 208. Off just 153 balls, studded with 13 fours and 12 sixes! And if that sounds impressive, read this: he brought up his hundred off 115 balls with the help of nine boundaries and a six; for his second hundred, he took just 36 balls, 54 minutes, smashing a mindboggling 11 sixes and four boundaries. 

The best part about Sharma’s brutal assault was its effortlessness. There were no ugly heaves and misses, no ungainly edges flying over the ropes. All the time he looked elegant as always, smashing the balls way over the boundary ropes. 

“This knock is up there with the other two double hundreds, but I can’t rate one over the other,” said Sharma. With the skipper dishing out a knock like this, the result was always a foregone conclusion. For the record, India won by 141 runs, their biggest win in Mohali in terms of runs. 

While Sharma holds the world record score of 264 versus Sri Lanka in 2014, he scored his first double ton (209) against Australia in 2013. In all, seven double hundreds have been scored in ODIs, three by the Mumbaikar.