Pathum Nissanka, the destructive opening batter of Sri Lanka has created history by becoming the first ever Sri Lankan batter to reach the 200-run mark in ODIs. Nissanka scored his first-ever double century in just 136 balls during the first ODI of the series against Afghanistan in Pallekele.
Table of Contents
The opener remained unbeaten on 210 off just 139 balls, smashing 20 fours and eight sixes in a magnificent knock, steering Sri Lanka to a mammoth score of 381/3. Nissanka’s 210* is the fifth-highest individual score in ODI history, and he is the fifth batter to have carried the bat after scoring a double century.
Nissanka also registered the highest individual score for Sri Lanka in ODIs, surpassing former opener Sanath Jayasuriya, whose 189 against India stood as a record for over 23 years. After which, Jayasuriya himself took to social media platform X and congratulated Nissanka. The former Sri Lanka captain wrote, “Congratulations to Pathum on a masterclass in batting. I am so so privileged to witness it in person pure bliss”.
Overall, Rohit Sharma’s 264 still remains the highest individual score in the ODI format; the innings had come against Sri Lanka in 2014 at the Eden Gardens. Nissanka’s knock, however, is now the third-fastest double-ton in ODI history. He reached the mark in just 136 balls, going past the likes of Chris Gayle (138 balls), Virender Sehwag (140 balls), and Sachin Tendulkar (140 balls) among former cricketers.
Nissanka achieved the feat during the first ODI between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Friday, February 9. He remained unbeaten on 210 runs and helped Sri Lanka post a massive total of 381/3 in their 50 overs while batting first.
Nissanka kept going and brought up his double century in the last over as his innings included 20 fours and eight sixes. Nissanka also became the third fastest batter to score a double ton in ODIs as he surpassed Chris Gayle and Virender Sehwag who had scored it in 138 and 140 balls respectively.
India’s Ishan Kishan holds the record for the fastest double century, having achieved the feat in 126 balls against Bangladesh in 2022. Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell stands second in the list as he scored a double century in 128 balls in the ODI World Cup 2023 match against Afghanistan.
Overall, Nissanka becomes the 10th male cricketer to hit a double hundred in the ODIs, apart from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who was the first batter to reach 200 in the ODIs, Virender Sehwag, Martin Guptill, Rohit Sharma, Fakhar Zaman, Chris Gayle, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, and Glenn Maxwell are the other batters to have hit the double hundred.
Here’s the updated list of players to score 200 in ODIs after Pathum Nissanka’s double ton:
1) Ishan Kishan – 126 balls vs Bangladesh (2022)
Ishan Kishan finished with 210 off 131 balls, which includes 24 fours and 10 sixes. He batted at a strike rate of 160.31, no other double-centurion finished their innings with a better strike rate than the batter from Patna. Kishan became the youngest cricketer to score an ODI double ton and the first to complete his maiden century in the format into a double century.
2) Glenn Maxwell – 128 balls vs Bangladesh (2023)
An injured Glenn Maxwell on one leg played one of the most sensational knocks in ODI history. After being down at 91/7 at one stage, Australia staged a miraculous chase courtesy of a partnership between Maxwell and Pat Cummins. Maxwell with a cramp scored an unbeaten 128-ball 201 in the 39th match of World Cup 2023 against Afghanistan to pull off a stunning chase and help the Aussies to a three-wicket win.
3) Pathum Nissanka – 136 balls vs Afghanistan (2024)
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka features third on the list for the fastest double centuries in ODIs. Opening the batting, Pathum Nissanka hammered 200 off just 136 balls during the first ODI of Afghanistan’s tour of Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in 2024. The swashbuckling right-handed batter became the first Sri Lankan cricketer to score a double hundred in ODI cricket. Furthermore, Nissanka also broke the record for the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan in ODI history as he remained unbeaten on 210 off 139 balls, laced with 20 fours and eight maximums.
4) Chris Gayle – 138 balls vs Zimbabwe (2015)
Chris Gayle was the first non-Indian batter to score a double century in ODIs and the first to do it at the ICC Cricket World Cup (2015 edition). He scored 215 runs off 147 deliveries and brought up the 200-mark in 138 balls. With this, Gayle became the first cricketer to achieve the unique feat of scoring a century in T20Is, a double century in ODIs and a triple century in Tests.
5) Virender Sehwag – 140 balls vs West Indies (2011)
Virender Sehwag was the second batter to score a double century in ODIs. The swashbuckling opener brought up the 200-mark in just 140 deliveries, finishing with 219 runs off 149 balls. He held the record for the highest individual score in this format until November 2014, when Rohit Sharma surpassed him.
6) Shubman Gill – 145 balls vs New Zealand (2023)
Shubman Gill became the youngest batter (23 years, 132 days) to hit a double century in ODIs when he achieved the feat against Kiwis in the first ODI of the New Zealand tour of India 2023. Moreover, he also set the record of highest individual score versus the Black Caps in ODIs while also becoming the fastest cricketer to breach the 1000-run mark in ODIs.
7) Sachin Tendulkar – 147 balls vs South Africa (2010)
Sachin Tendulkar achieved many records during his illustrious career but this double century against South Africa remains one of his most special achievements. He scored 200 runs in 147 balls, which includes 25 fours and three sixes. Tendulkar remains to be the oldest batter to score a double ton.
8) Fakhar Zaman – 148 balls vs Zimbabwe (2018)
Fakhar Zaman became the first Pakistani batter to score a double century in this format, against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. The opener brought up his 200 in just 148 balls and remained unbeaten on 210. He smashed 24 fours and 10 sixes en route to his double ton.
9) Rohit Sharma – 151 balls vs Sri Lanka (2014)
Two out of three double centuries for Rohit Sharma came against Sri Lanka. His first double century against Sri Lanka came in November 2014 at Eden Gardens when he smashed the highest individual score of all-time in ODIs. Rohit scored a 151-ball 200 and made 264 runs off 173 balls, including 33 fours and nine sixes. India made 404/5 and dismissed Sri Lanka for 251 to win by 153 runs.
10) Martin Guptill – 153 balls vs West Indies (2015)
New Zealand’s Martin Guptill became the first international batter to score an ODI double hundred as he brought up this feat against the West Indies in their quarterfinal clash in Wellington in the 2015 ODI World Cup. With an extraordinary unbeaten innings of 237 against the West Indies. The breathtaking performance unfolded at Wellington in March 2015, leaving fans and experts in awe of his ability to decimate the opposition’s bowling attack.
