“I can tell my kids I was there” – When Virat Kohli reacted to Rohit Sharma’s record-breaking ODI knock of 264
It was November of 2014 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata when current Indian skipper Rohit Sharma produced the seemingly impossible, scoring a 250+ score in an ODI game. Team India were playing a five-match home ODI series against Sri Lanka and this was the penultimate game with the hosts already 3-0 up.
With Virat Kohli leading the side, Rohit smashed 264 off 173 deliveries, including an incredible 33 boundaries and 9 maximums. The 264 by Rohit remains the highest ODI score to date.
It led to Kohli praising Rohit in the press conference after the match and adding that the record will potentially never be broken.
"I said in the press conference yesterday that once Rohit gets going he is very dangerous. Today is the kind of day I can tell my kids I was there (and watched Rohit bat). I don't think this record is getting broken anytime soon. I was glad I was batting with him. There was a time when Rohit will admit runs were not coming easily, and I just asked him to take his time. Once he gets to 70-80, he is almost unstoppable," said Kohli as quoted by NDTV.
Incidentally, Kohli shared a 202-run partnership with Rohit in the game as India amassed a remarkable 404/5 in 50 overs.
The Lankans were bowled out for 251 in response as India eventually won the series 5-0.
Rohit Sharma scored his first ODI double-century a year before his 264
Rohit Sharma's 264 against Sri Lanka was his second double ton in ODIs with the first coming against Australia exactly a year back in November 2013.
The now-37-year-old flexed all his muscles in the series decider against the Aussies at Bengaluru, finishing 209 from 158 deliveries. His heroics helped India score a massive 383/6 and complete a 57-run win to take the series honors 3-2.
Rohit scored a third double-century a few years later in 2017 against Sri Lanka with a 208* off 153 balls in Mohali. The current Indian skipper is the only batter in cricket history with multiple ODI double-centuries.
Rohit boasts a magnificent overall ODI record with 10,866 runs at an average of over 49, including 31 centuries in 265 games.