4 batsmen with double hundreds in both Tests and ODIs

Rohit Sharma continued his fabulous run in the Test series against South Africa, slamming his maiden double hundred on the second day of the third and final Test at Ranchi. Rohit, who was unbeaten on 117 when stumps were drawn early on Day 1, went on to slam 212 from 255 balls, with 28 fours and six sixes.

Rohit got to his double hundred by hooking Lungi Ngidi for a six after lunch, much in Virender Sehwag style, who is celebrating his birthday today.

Rohit began the series with 176 and 127 at Visakhapatnam, his first Test as opener, before managing only 14 at Pune. With his knock of 212 at Ranchi, Rohit has joined a select group of all-format players.

Here, we look at four players with the rare distinction of having hit a double hundred in both Test and ODIs.

#4 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has three double hundreds in ODIs

Before his double hundred in the Ranchi Test, Rohit had slammed a record three double centuries in one-day cricket.

Rohit holds the record for the highest individual score in ODIs - 264 against Sri Lanka at Kolkata on 13 November 13 2014. That knock took 173 deliveries, and included 33 fours and 9 sixes. Thanks to Rohit’s heroics, India posted a massive 404 for 5 on the board, and won the game by 153 runs.

Three years later, on 13 December 2017, Rohit slammed another double century against the same opponent, at Mohali. Batting first, Rohit notched up an unbeaten 208 from 153 balls, this time with 13 fours and as many as 12 sixes.

With the help of half-centuries from Shikhar Dhawan and Shreyas Iyer, India ended up posting 392 for 4 and were victorious by 141 runs.

Rohit’s maiden ODI double hundred came against Australia at Bengaluru on 2 November 2013. India batted first, and the opener blasted 209 from 158 balls before being dismissed.

Rohit whacked as many as 16 sixes in that innings apart from 12 fours. India ended up posting 383 for 6, and went on to clinch the contest by 57 runs.

Also see – World Test Championship Schedule

#3 Chris Gayle

West Indies v Zimbabwe - 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup

The big-hitting West Indian Chris Gayle blasted 215 against Zimbabwe during the 15th match of the ICC World Cup 2015, held at Canberra on 24 February. West Indies batted first after winning the toss, and Gayle was soon all over Zimbabwe, thrashing their bowlers to all parts of the ground with disdain.

Gayle’s 215 came off only 147 balls, with 10 fours and 16 sixes. Tinashe Panyangara went for 82 in nine overs while Tendai Chatara conceded 74 in 9.4 overs. West Indies finished with a massive 372 for 2, with Marlon Samuels also contributing an unbeaten 133.

In reply, Zimbabwe managed to post a decent 289 thanks to fifties from Sean Williams and Craig Ervine. But they ended up losing by 73 runs on (D/L) method, as Jerome Taylor and Jason Holder picked up three wickets each.

In Tests, Gayle has two triple hundreds to his name - 333 against Sri Lanka and 317 against South Africa - apart from a knock of 204 against New Zealand.

#2 Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag

Birthday boy Virender Sehwag wasn't as prolific in ODIs as he was in Tests. However, against West Indies at Indore on 8 December 2011, the swashbuckling Sehwag slammed a magnificent double hundred to enter the pages of history. He hit 219 from 149 balls, a knock featuring 25 fours and seven sixes.

Sehwag was literally unstoppable as he dispatched the bowlers to all parts of the ground on what was completely his day. Kemar Roach conceded 88 in his 10 overs as India put up 418 for 5, and won the match by 153 runs. Ravindra Jadeja and Rahul Sharma picked up three wickets each for India.

Apart from his one-day double hundred, Sehwag has two triple hundreds in Test cricket -- 319 against South Africa and 309 against Pakistan. He crossed the 200 mark four more times in his career, narrowly missing out on a third double hundred when he fell for 293 against Sri Lanka.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

Sachin Tendulkar

Not many would find it surprising that Sachin Tendulkar was the first man to slam a double hundred in both Tests and ODIs.

Tendulkar blasted exactly 200 not out from 147 balls in an ODI against South Africa at Gwalior on 24 February 2010. India batted first in the game, and Tendulkar was at the crease for 226 minutes, slashing 25 fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 136.05.

Dinesh Karthik made 79 while MS Dhoni was unbeaten on 68 as India posted a mammoth 401 for 3. Dale Steyn was hit for 89 runs in his 10 overs while Wayne Parnell conceded 95 in his quota of overs.

Despite AB de Villiers' hundred, India won the match easily, by 153 runs.

In his 200-match Test career, Tendulkar crossed 200 six times, with a best of 248 not out against Bangladesh. He also made an unbeaten 241 against Australia at Sydney in 2004, during a phase when he was not in form, and yet managed to post a massive score.

Tendulkar could have had seven double hundreds had he not been stranded on 194 not out at Multan in 2004.