Highest Individual score in ODI. Check complete list

In the annals of cricket history, one innings stands tall as the pinnacle of individual achievement in One Day International (ODI) cricket. On November 13, 2014, Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma etched his name in the record books by scoring an astonishing 264 runs off just 173 balls during the fourth ODI of the Sri Lanka tour of India. This remarkable feat remains unmatched to this day, making it the highest individual score in ODI cricket.

Highest Individual score in ODI

The fourth ODI held little significance for the Indian team, as they had already secured the series victory by winning each of the first three matches. It was essentially a dead rubber. However, Rohit Sharma, with his insatiable hunger for runs, unleashed a masterclass innings that surpassed the entire Sri Lankan team’s total score of 251 runs.

During his record-breaking innings, Rohit first forged a scintillating 201-run partnership with his teammate Virat Kohli, showcasing their batting prowess and skillful shot selection. The duo’s synchrony was a sight to behold, as they meticulously dismantled the Sri Lankan bowling attack. Following this formidable partnership, Rohit then teamed up with Robin Uthappa to create a devastating 128-run stand off just 59 balls, propelling India to a mammoth total of 404/5.

With such a formidable target on the board, India’s deadly bowling attack took center stage and sealed the victory for their team. The Indian bowlers exhibited their prowess and stifled the Sri Lankan batsmen, leading their team to a resounding triumph with a staggering margin of 153 runs.

It is worth noting that this was not the first time Rohit Sharma had reached the coveted 200-run milestone in the 50-over format. During the seventh and final ODI of the Australia tour of India in 2013, Rohit unleashed a whirlwind innings, smashing 209 runs off just 158 balls. This made him only the third player in cricket history to cross the monumental 200-run mark in ODI cricket. At the time of writing, this innings stands as the sixth-highest individual score in the format.

The second-highest individual score in ODI cricket belongs to New Zealand’s Martin Guptill. In the quarter-final of the 2015 Cricket World Cup against the West Indies, Guptill played a breathtaking unbeaten innings of 237 runs off 163 balls. His masterful knock, which lasted 223 minutes, included an astonishing 24 fours and 11 sixes, solidifying his place in cricketing folklore.

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag occupies the third spot on the list of highest individual scores in ODI cricket. On December 8, 2011, as captain of the Indian team against the West Indies, Sehwag unleashed a blitzkrieg, amassing 219 runs off just 149 balls. His innings propelled India to a colossal total of 418/5, and it included a staggering 25 fours, which remains a joint-record for the most number of boundaries hit in an ODI innings.

The likes of Chris Gayle (215) and Fakhar Zaman (210*) complete the top five list for the highest individual scores in ODI cricket. It is worth noting that only eight players have managed to breach the 200-run landmark in the 50-over format, with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar being the first-ever player to achieve this feat. However, Rohit Sharma stands alone in the record books as the only player to have crossed the 200-run mark on three different occasions, a testament to his extraordinary batting prowess and ability to create history on the cricket field.