On This Day: Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni And Chris Gayle Created Histories
Feb 24, 2019 at 4:17 PM
In this decade, 24 February has become a special day in international cricket. On the same date but in different years, Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Chris Gayle have hit the special double-centuries in international cricket.
24 February 2010 – Sachin Tendulkar became the first man to score ODI double-century
On this day in 2010, the legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar hit an ODI double-century, which was the first ever double-century in men’s ODI history. India played that ODI match against South Africa at Gwalior.
After breaking the previous highest ODI individual score record of 194, Sachin Tendulkar completed that historical double-century in the final over of their innings. The right-handed opening batsman remained not out on 200 runs off 147 balls (25 boundaries and three sixes).
That innings helped India to post a mammoth total on the board in the first innings of the match. While India scored 401/3, South Africa only managed to score 248 (42.5 overs), and India won by 153 runs.
24 February 2013 – MS Dhoni played the highest knock as an Indian Test captain
It was the day three of the Chennai Test between India and Australia when the Indian skipper created a history. As an Indian captain, MS Dhoni played a great knock. Coming to bat at no.6 during India’s first innings, MS Dhoni scored 224 runs off 265 balls (24 boundaries and six sixes). It was the highest individual score by an Indian Test captain at that time. Later, Virat Kohli broke that record twice.
On the other hand, it is also the only Test double-century by an Indian wicketkeeper-batsman.
While Australia scored 380 runs in the first innings of that Test match, India replied with 572 runs. In the second innings, Australia was bundled out for 241 runs. India comfortably chased down the 50 runs target in the fourth innings after losing just two wickets.
24 February 2015 – Chris Gayle became the first batsman to hit a double-century in Cricket World Cup
On this day in 2015, West Indies opener Chris Gayle slammed a double-century against Zimbabwe in the Pool B match of 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. It was the first double-century in the Cricket World Cup history. The left-handed batsman scored 215 runs off 147 balls (10 boundaries and 16 sixes) before losing his wicket on the last ball of their innings.
West Indies scored 372/2 in 50 overs. There was another world record in that innings, and that was the highest runs partnership for any wicket in ODI history. For the second wicket, Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels put a 372-run partnership.
In reply, Zimbabwe scored 289 runs in 44.3 overs. West Indies won the game by 73 runs in D/L method (revised target was 363 in 48 overs).
Later in that same tournament, New Zealand opener, Martin Guptill hit a double ton against West Indies. On 21 March 2015, in the quarter-final, Martin Guptill played an unbeaten knock of 237 off 163 balls.