5 ODI records that will remain unbroken for a long time because of the rule changes

The change in ODI rules made recently has been welcomed by all. The ICC has decided to do away with the compulsory fielders in catching positions in the first 10 overs and the batting powerplay has been scrapped.It has also been decided that five fielders will now be allowed outside the 30-yard circle for the last 10 overs. The rule had also taken part-timers out of the equation.The previous rules, believed to be hopelessly skewed in favour of the batsmen, had ensured lusty power-hitting which reached a whole new level, where barriers thought impossible till now have been crossed and records have tumbled.Once the new rules are implemented now, the balance might be slightly restored between the bat and the ball. On that note, let us look at the top five records made in that period which might be tough to break now with the change in ODI rules.

#5 Most runs conceded by a bowler off his 2 consecutive overs

Holder would be a happy man now

When AB de Villiers was on rampage en route to his 162 off 66 balls against the West Indies in the 2015 World Cup, the Windies captain Jason Holder was at the receiving end. He bowled the 48th and the 50th over conceding a whopping 64 runs off his last two overs.

He had at one stage in that match conceded only 9 runs off 5 overs. It then became 40 in 8 overs until he came to bowl his last two overs finishing his quota with figures of 104 for 1 off his 10 overs.

Holder now has figures which are the worst ever for a captain in the ODI history and the worst for any bowler in the World Cup. The 64 runs scored off the 48th and the 50th over is now the most runs conceded by any bowler off his two consecutive overs in ODIs. A record that looks tough to beat and a record that he would not like to hold on to.

#4 Most runs scored off the last 10 overs

The South Africa – West Indies clash during the WC broke many records

AB de Villers' carnage against the Windies in the 2015 World Cup ensured that the most runs were scored off the last ten overs in ODI history. South Africa's score stood at a modest 245 after the 40th over. But the last 10 overs yielded an incredible 163 runs as they ended with a mammoth 408 for 5.

Not a single bowler was spared. Rossouw and de Villiers matched each other stroke for stroke as they together added 134 in just 12.3 overs. The South African innings highlighted a pattern that was emerging as batting teams started to look to keep wickets in hand in the middle overs and prepare for the onslaught at the end.

With five overs of the batting powerplay in the end and the last ten overs to follow, teams started to look to double the runs they had scored till then. That might be impossible now with the batting powerplay having been done away with. Also, with five fielders being allowed outside the 30-yard circle for the last ten overs now, this record of 163 runs scored off the last 60 balls might be very difficult to break now.

#3 Fastest ODI century

de Villiers scored a 31-ball century against the Windies

AB de Villiers literary blasted his way into the record books when he brought up the fastest ODI century against the West Indies taking just 31 balls to reach the milestone. He broke Corey Anderson's record who had scored a century off 36 balls a little over a year earlier.

He brought up his half-century off just 16 balls setting a new record for the fastest fifty in ODIs surpassing the previous record held by Sanath Jayasuriya who had scored 50 off 17 balls in 1996.

De Villiers also holds the record for the fastest 150 in ODI history (off 64 balls) scored against the West Indies in the 2015 World Cup. All of these records look almost impossible to beat once the new rules are implemented. Unless of course the great man has other ideas and takes on the challenge himself!

#2 Fastest ODI double century

Can Gayle score a 200 again in ODIs?

Chris Gayle's blitzkrieg of 215 off 138 balls scored against Zimbabwe in the 2015 World Cup is the fastest double hundred in ODI cricket. It was also the highest score by any batsman in World Cups up to that point, as Gayle broke Gary Kirsten's record of 188 scored against the UAE in 1996. (Note: Martin Guptill broke that record a few days later as he racked up 237 against West Indies).

Gayle hit 16 sixes during his innings, which is the joint most by any batsman in ODIs. Gayle shares this feat with Rohit Sharma and AB de Villiers. His second-wicket partnership of 372 runs shared with Marlon Samuels is also the highest for any wicket in ODI history which again is unlikely to get broken soon.

#1 Highest score in ODIs

Rohit scored 264 against Sri Lanka last year

Rohit Sharma's magnificent knock of 264 off 173 balls scored in November last year will be tough to beat now with the change in ODI rules. Even Virat Kohli who scored a crucial 66 in that match conceded that it will be tough to surpass the record-breaking score any time soon.

Sharma's acceleration late in the innings was so brutal that after reaching his 150, he scored the next 100 runs off 41 balls. He started picking his spots towards the end - his flicked six over square-leg when he met the ball outside the off-stump in the 48th over was outrageous at best.

His 33 fours and 9 sixes took his tally to 42 boundaries which is also a record that will take some getting. Known as 'Hitman' for his merciless butchery with the bat, Sharma is also the only ODI player who has two double-centuries to his name.

Will someone else break this humongous feat?