Top 3 ODI knocks by Indian batsmen this decade

Indian cricket scaled greater heights in the past ten years, especially in the white-ball format with two ICC titles in the first half of the decade. However, India’s performances in these tournaments weren’t as commendable in the second half, as they failed to win any of the major World tournaments between 2015 and 2019.

India relished a successful period under the captaincy of MS Dhoni in the limited-overs format despite going through a transition period quite early in this decade. It was a time when some of the legends of Indian cricket stepped aside while some young guns began to gradually earn a name for themselves during the same phase.

The batsmanship and the standard of batting, especially in the ODIs, was never let down even when some of the greats were nearing the twilight in their careers. It was majorly due to India’s batting that they exhibited such a fruitful span of the last ten years.

Through the course of the last ten years, there were quite a lot of individual batting performances which forced people to take notice of significant achievements in world cricket. At times, it was just unbelievable stroke play or flawless innings which tend to remain etched in memories forever.

Here we take a look at Top 3 ODI knocks by Indian batsmen in this decade:

#3 Sachin Tendulkar (200* vs South Africa at Gwalior in 2010)

Sachin Tendulkar

It was an innings which once again saw Sachin Tendulkar register himself in the history books as he became the first batsman to score a double hundred in ODI cricket. His innings off just 147 balls became the then highest score in ODIs after he went past Charles Coventry’s 194 not out.

It was an innings that displayed sheer brilliance as the Master Blaster played with supreme authority to give South Africans no chance to breach through his defences on that particular day. He paced his innings extremely well, adjusting to the requirements of the team. Sachin got to his first hundred runs in 91 balls while it took him only 56 balls to blaze his way to the magical figure.

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He tormented the proteas’ bowlers, dismissing them to all parts of the ground and allowing India to go past the 400-run mark in their innings. Unsurprisingly, Tendulkar was nominated as the Man of the Match for his ballistic efforts in India’s 153-run victory over their opponents. In the end, it seemed fitting for him to become the first man to breach the 200-run mark.

#2 Gautam Gambhir (97 vs Sri Lanka at Mumbai in 2011)

Gautam Gambhir

It was the World Cup final and chasing a total of 275 in Mumbai, India’s hopes rested on their middle-order after the early departure of Sachin and Sehwag. In demanding circumstances, India’s No.3 in the World Cup, Gautam Gambhir once again rose to the occasion as he held the innings together by stitching partnerships, first with Virat Kohli and then with MS Dhoni.

Gambhir fell three short of his century in the final, in what was truly a match-winning effort from the southpaw. However, his 97 was as crucial to lay the foundation of India’s second World Cup win. He might not have crossed the three-figure mark that day, but it was enough to be counted as one of the better ODI innings ever played in Indian cricket given the significance it held for Indian fans and followers across the globe.

On that day, Gambhir registered himself in India’s history books as a hero on one of the most special nights in a cricketer’s playing career.

#1 Rohit Sharma (264 vs Sri Lanka at Kolkata in 2014)

Rohit Sharma

It was the fourth ODI of the five-match series between India and Sri Lanka in 2014 when Rohit Sharma created history to register a mammoth individual score of 264 runs against Sri Lanka. The Indian opener, who was returning from an injury layoff after 10 weeks, couldn’t make into the XI in the first three matches but was quick to pounce on the opportunity that finally came his way.

Eden Gardens yet again witnessed history unfold as Sharma not only registered the highest ODI score but also became the only batsman to score two double tons in ODIs. It was hitting at its imperial best as Rohit took the Sri Lankan bowlers to the cleaners in his 173-ball stay at the crease.

In his innings of 264, he hit nine sixes and recorded 33 – most fours in an innings - to hurt Sri Lanka on numerous occasions in Kolkata. India posted 404, while Sri Lanka could barely manage a total of 251 runs to lose the game by 153 runs and concede a 4-0 lead to India.