Rohit Sharma on Thursday created history by smashing the highest individual ODI score with a breathtaking knock of 264 as India thrashed Sri lanka by 153 runs in the fourth cricket one-dayer to take a 4-0 lead in the five-match series here.
Courtesy Rohit's mayhem, India scored a mammoth 404 for five and then easily bowled out the islanders for 251 in 43.1 overs. Returning after a 10-week injury lay-off, Rohit had everything going his way after being let-off on individual score of four.
The Mumbaikar paced his innings to perfection as he first got set during the initial 50 runs before exploding against a clueless lankan attack, as he scored his 264 off only 173 balls that had 33 fours and seven sixes.In the process, Rohit also broke compatriot Virender Sehwag's earlier world record of 219 runs, which he had set against West Indies in Indore, back in 2011.
Rohit is also the only batsman to register two double centuries in ODIs and also now holds the record for highest number of boundaries during his innings.The epic milestone was reached when Rohit hit an elegant cover drive off Nuwan Kulasekara. Rohit did have 'lady luck' going his way as he was dropped twice after reaching his double hundred.
The stylish right-hander was all set to carry his bat through before he was holed out in the long-off region off the final delivery of the Indian innings.Fittingly, he received a 'Guard of Honour' from his teammates, who stood on both sides outside the dressing room with spectators also giving him a standing ovation.
Stand-in captain Virat Kohli, the other day, termed Rohit as the 'X-factor' going into the World Cup.405 was never going to be easy after lanka lost their first wicket for naught with pacer Umesh Yadav giving the breakthrough by claiming Perera (0) in the second ball. Yadav next took the big scalp of Jayawardene cheaply as lanka were 42/3 as the victory looked very near.
Skipper Angelo Mathews was the top-scorer for the visitors with 75 and shared 118 runs with lahiru Thirimanne (59) but it was too little looking at the monstrous target.Yadav (2/38) once again was the pick of Indian bowlers even as Dhawal Kulkarni decimated the middle and lower order with best figures of 4/34.
As it turned out, lankans could not even get past Rohit's individual score and were bundled out for 251 in 43.1 overs to concede an embarrassing defeat.The innings was not only a mix of elegance, class and timing but luck too played a big role with Sharma tumbling records after records making the lankans look like school boys.
When lankans batted, only time when they looked like putting up a fight was during the Mathews-Thirimanne partnership that yielded 118 runs. It was young Axar, who showed good temperament to get the opposition captain out.
It was Axar, who finished the match when Ajantha Mendis's switch-hit turned out to be a mis-hit.‘Couple of failures will not stop me’
Having scored a world record 264, Rohit Sharma feels he has a lot more to achieve in the game and an odd failure will not stop his progress.“Not relieved I would say. I still have a lot more to do. When I was young and wanted to play International cricket, I never thought this would happen,” said Rohit when asked about his breathtaking innings.
Rohit, who played his first international game after an injury lay-off, had struggled against pace bowling in South Africa. He said couple of failures cannot stop his progress.
“You have to accept the failure and success and you keep moving on. That's what I've done. A couple of overseas failures will not stop my cricket. My cricket and my hard work will still remain on the track. I will keep working hard as ever.”
Admitting that he was struggling in the beginning, Rohit said: “Playing after two months from an injury layoff, I was feeling little out of place, I should accept that. The strikebreaking was not happening as naturally as it used to be. I wanted to get stuck in the middle that required a lot of dedication and determination. I had to build the innings. Initial 10-15 overs was not easy. I kept telling myself, no matter what, I need to stay there. luckily the quickfire innings by Rahane really helped me settle down. Getting two double hundreds was really special.” He refused to comment whether he would like to open the innings. “I am not a captain or coach or team management so I can't decide this. I will bat wherever they decide. I don't know what will be in the World Cup. The team combination is more important than the personal interest. Whatever the team combination we want going into the World Cup, I've to keep that mind."