Watch: 209, 264, 208* - All 3 Rohit Sharma ODI Double Hundreds

India’s flamboyant opener Rohit Sharma has turned 33 today. The man who has engraved many memories in the hearts of Indian cricket fans is celebrating his birthday today. Born in Bansod, Nagpur, Maharashtra, Rohit always had the immaculate talent which was needed to perform at the grandest stage. It was just the execution that awaited him for a long period of time.

He made his ODI debut on June 23rd, 2007 against Ireland in Belfast as a middle-order batsman. He wasn’t a regular member of the Indian team in his hay days and usually found himself warming the bench. It took him 6 long years to get a permanent place in the ODI side when the then captain MS Dhoni asked him to open the innings in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.

That move from MS Dhoni was nothing short of an exception and soon with his immense talent, Rohit Sharma paved his way into the Indian side and also in the hearts of Indian fans.

On his 33rd birthday, let us relive his three double centuries in ODIs which made him a megastar, a mega icon of Indian cricket.

Rohit Sharma: 209 vs Australia at M Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru, 2013

Only Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag had achieved the feat of scoring a double ton in ODIs. Tendulkar did so against South Africa in Gwalior, whereas, Sehwag scored his double ton against West Indies in Indore.

Rohit Sharma with his special knock of 209 from 158 deliveries was the only third batsman to achieve this feat. He gained accolades all around the globe and also ended his knock with a record of most sixes in an ODI inning i.e 16 sixes.

Here’s a glimpse of his breathtaking knock;

Rohit Sharma: 264 vs Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, 2014

If 2013 was just a start, year 2014 awaited one more glory for the ‘HIT-man’ Rohit Sharma. It was India vs Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens which was one of the happy hunting grounds for the dashing opener.

Rohit was making a return to the national side after an injury layoff and had to prove his worth at the top-order. A knock of 264 runs from 173 deliveries was probably the best way to make a statement on his return. He was on ‘Beast mode’ at the historic Eden Gardens and looked miraculously effortless throughout the course of his record knock.

Here’s the highlights of Rohit Sharma’s record knock;

https://youtu.be/zxcjGTasGxs

**Rohit Sharma: 208* vs Sri Lanka at the PCA Stadium in Mohali, 2017**

This was Rohit’s third ODI double century and unfortunately, Sri Lanka was at the receiving end yet again. The stage was set at the PCA stadium Mohali and once again India were batting first.

Rohit’s innings compiled 12 sixes and 13 fours in a masterclass knock of 208 runs off 153 deliveries. He carried his bat in the end and his knock helped India register an emphatic win by 141 runs.