Youngest player to score 200 in ODI cricket: Shubman Gill’s dazzling 208 sets record

Sachin Tendulkar broke multiple batting records during his 23-year career. One among that illustrious list was scoring the first double-century in One Day International (ODI) cricket.

Tendulkar, known as the God of cricket, smashed an unbeaten 200 against South Africa in February 2010 towards the latter stages of his international journey, aged 36 years and 306 days. Ever since, there has been a splash of youthfulness painted on this record.

India’s Rohit Sharma was the first cricketer to smash an ODI double-century in his twenties (26 years and 186 days), smashing 209 against Australia in November 2013. The record for the youngest cricketer to score an ODI double-century has been broken twice since Rohit’s memorable innings at Bengaluru.

After his 210-run knock against Bangladesh in December 2022, Ishan Kishan held the record with an age of 24 years and 154 days. However, India’s Shubman Gill is now the youngest player to score 200 in ODI cricket. The Punjab batter broke the record against New Zealand at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in January 2023, taking over from Kishan, aged 23 years and 132 days.

Virender Sehwag, Martin Guptill and Chris Gayle are other notable cricketers featuring in the top-10 list of youngest players to score double-century in ODI cricket.    

Youngest player to score 200 in ODIs

Shubman Gill (208) vs New Zealand: 23y, 132d

Shubman Gill became the youngest ODI double-centurion when he smashed New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson for a six over long off at Hyderabad in January 2023. 

In what was a breathtaking innings, where he scored boundaries at will, Gill scored 208 runs off only 149 balls to set up a match-winning total for India in the first ODI of New Zealand’s 2023 tour. It was also his second-consecutive ton in the format. 

The Indian opener left the Kiwi pacers in dismay with 19 fours and four sixes during the knock, which was the fourth-fastest double century in ODIs.

Ishan Kishan (210) vs Bangladesh: 24y, 145d

Meanwhile, three matches before Gill’s innings, Ishan Kishan broke Rohit Sharma’s record for the youngest cricketer to score a double-century in the format, aged 24 years and 145 days. Kishan also became the fastest double-centurion in ODIs, achieving the feat in 126 balls.

At Chattogram, the Jharkhand batter tore apart the Bangladeshi bowling attack, with an array of fours and sixes from the get-go. Kishan scored 210 runs off 131 balls. His strike rate of 160.30 set him on course for a triple ton before he was dismissed in the 36th over.

Rohit Sharma (209) vs Australia: 26y, 186d

The Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma, who boasts of the highest score in ODIs, is currently third on the list. The Mumbai batter slammed his first double-century in the format, aged 26 years and 186 days, against Australia at Bengaluru in November 2013.

Rohit’s 209 off 158, including 12 fours and 16 sixes, helped India score a mammoth total of 383/6 in the series decider. He was only the third player to score a 200 in the format at the time. 

He also ranks fourth and seventh in the youngest double-centurions list for his knocks against Sri Lanka in 2014 and 2017, respectively.

Photo credits: Alamy