Rohit Sharma (L) and Shubman Gill (R) (Source: AFP)
On November 13, 2014, when the winters were knocking on the doors in India, Sri Lanka felt the heat of Rohit Sharma’s bat at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It was the fourth ODI of the five-match series between India and Sri Lanka, when Rohit Sharma made his name eternal in the history of ODIs.
The Hitman went on to smash 264 runs off just 173 balls, with a sensational strike rate of 152.60, hitting 33 fours and nine sixes. It happened to be the highest ever individual score for a batter in the ODIs.
Since then, a few batters have scored double centuries in the ODIs, but Rohit’s 264-run mark is still untouched, even after more than 11 years since the day it was achieved. However, some batters have shown the potential, and their batting excellence suggests they might break Rohit’s record sooner or later.
Therefore, here’s a look at the five batters who can break Rohit Sharma’s record of 264 runs in the ODIs.
5 Players who can break Rohit Sharma’s 264-run record in ODIs
Yashasvi Jaiswal - India
The young India opener, Yashasviv Jaiswal, has left everyone awestruck with his sensational batting performances in the Tests. However, he has had very few chances in the ODIs, but he has impressed with his outings in the four ODIs he has played, scoring 171 runs in four innings, including an unbeaten century.
Jaiswal has a knack for converting his centuries into the bigger ones by accelerating after completing the ton. He has showcased the same skill in the red-ball cricket, which he is also capable of doing in the ODIs. So, the 24-year-old is one of the top contenders to break Rohit Sharma’s record of the highest individual score.
Travis Head - Australia
The swashbuckling Australia opener, Travis Head, has been in a ‘form of his life’ for the last few years since he won the ODI World Cup 2023 for his side with an iconic knock in the final against India. He is known for playing big knocks for Australia across all formats.
Speaking of his ODI career, Head has played 79 ODIs, scoring 3007 runs in 76 innings at an average of 43.57, with 7 centuries and 17 half-centuries. Considering his current blistering batting form, Head could be the batter to break Rohit Sharma’s record in the coming few years.
Shubman Gill - India
India’s ODI skipper and star opening batter, Shubman Gill, has already entered the double-century club in ODIs. He became the youngest batter to score a double century in ODIs, with his massive 208-run knock against New Zealand in the Hyderabad ODI in 2023.
His potential to score big hundreds makes him one of the top contenders in the list of five batters who can break Rohit’s 264-run record. Gill has played 61 ODIs for India, scoring 2,953 runs in 61 innings at a brilliant batting average of 55.71, hitting 8 centuries and 17 half-centuries, including a double century.
Notably, the 26-year-old batter is just 47 runs away from reaching the milestone of 3,000 ODI runs.
Harry Brook - England
England’s ODI skipper and explosive middle-order batter, Harry Brook, has redefined the batting dynamics, even in the Tests. Speaking of ODIs, he has also been one of the vital cogs in the wheel of the English batting attack.
In his 37-ODI career, he has scored 1,218 runs in 37 innings, with an average of 35.82, hitting two centuries and six half-centuries. However, Brook hasn’t played any 150+ knock in the ODIs, but his knack for power-hitting and accelerating the innings at will might help him cross Rohit Sharma’s highest individual score of 264 runs.
Shai Hope - West Indies
The veteran West Indies wicketkeeper-batter, Shai Hope, is known for his blistering batting approach. He has been one of the top-performing batters for the Caribbean side. He also has a reputation as a batter who can convert the hundred into a big knock, be it 150+ or nearing the double century.
Hope has played 148 ODIs for West Indies, scoring 6,113 runs in 143 innings at an average of 50.52, including 19 centuries and 30 half-centuries. It also includes his highest individual score of ‘170 runs in a match’. He could also be one of the top contenders in line to break the record of the highest individual score in ODIs.
