Rohit Sharma’s 264: The ODI Peak

Rohit Sharma's 264 against Sri Lanka on November 13, 2014, is the highest individual score in ODI history, and the numbers behind it are staggering. He personally outscored Sri Lanka's entire team total of 251, smashed 33 fours and 9 sixes, and hit 65.34% of India's 404-run total himself. Three dropped catches kept him alive early, and he exploded from 100 to 250 in just 66 balls. There's so much more to uncover about this historic knock.

Key Takeaways

• Rohit Sharma scored 264 off 173 balls against Sri Lanka on November 13, 2014, at Eden Gardens, the oldest cricket ground in India.
• His innings featured 33 fours and 9 sixes, with 186 runs from boundaries, shattering Shane Watson's previous record of 150.
• Rohit personally outscored Sri Lanka's entire team total of 251, contributing 65.34% of India's 404-run total.
• Three dropped catches gifted Rohit his innings, with Sri Lanka ultimately paying a 153-run defeat and surrendering ODI history.
• The record of 264 remains the highest individual ODI score, with no batter surpassing it since 2014.

Why Eden Gardens Was the Perfect Stage for Rohit's 264

When Rohit Sharma walked out to bat at Eden Gardens on November 13, 2014, he did so on the oldest cricket ground in India, established in 1864 and named after the Eden sisters of Lord Auckland, the then Governor-General.

Once India's largest cricket stadium, Eden Gardens has long been the country's most iconic cricketing arena, capable of holding over 68,000 fans. Its immersive fan atmosphere is legendary — crowds here have literally altered match outcomes through sheer noise and passion. You can imagine 68,000 passionate Bengali cricket lovers roaring as Rohit dismantled Sri Lanka's bowling attack.

This ground had already witnessed history, including a record crowd of 110,564 during the 1996 World Cup semi-final. It was the perfect stage for cricket's greatest individual ODI innings. The stadium is also home to the CAB, the Cricket Association of Bengal, which has governed cricket in the region for decades.

The ground's flat pitch offers consistent pace and bounce, making it a batter's paradise, and the dew that sets in during evening matches makes it difficult for bowlers, tilting the balance further in favour of strokemakers like Rohit.

The World Record Rohit Sharma Broke on November 14, 2014

On November 13, 2014 — not November 14 as initially listed — Rohit Sharma rewrote ODI history, smashing 264 off 173 balls against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens to surpass Virender Sehwag's previous record of 219 against West Indies in 2011. His transformation from cautious start to dominant force defined the innings.

Dropped on just 4 runs, Rohit built patiently before accelerating past his fifty and century, eventually unleashing 33 fours and 9 sixes. His match winning impact was undeniable — he personally outscored Sri Lanka's entire team total of 251, powering India to 404/5 and a 153-run victory.

The record wasn't just about numbers; it reflected Rohit's ability to reshape an ODI innings single-handedly, cementing his reputation as the format's most destructive big-score batsman. He also shared a crucial 202-run partnership with Virat Kohli, who contributed 66 runs to help build the platform for India's commanding total. Notably, this was Rohit's second ODI double century, having previously achieved the feat against Australia in 2013, making him a rare and elite member of ODI batting history.

What Made Rohit Sharma's 264 the Greatest ODI Innings Ever?

Few innings in cricket history have redefined what's possible in a single ODI performance, but Rohit Sharma's 264 against Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens stands alone. His aggressive batting performance combined unmatched boundary hitting prowess, making it statistically untouchable.

Here's what set it apart:

• 186 runs came from boundaries — 33 fours and 9 sixes — shattering Shane Watson's previous record of 150
• Strike rate surged to 333.33 between 201-250, showing calculated late-innings destruction
• 65.34% of India's 404 total came from his bat, the highest percentage in completed ODI innings over 30 years
• 42 total boundaries in one innings topped Sehwag's previous record of 32

You're witnessing numbers that don't just break records — they make previous benchmarks seem prehistoric.

Rohit Sharma's 264, Ball by Ball

Every ball of Rohit Sharma's 264 tells a story of calculated aggression — one that began with surprising restraint. You'll notice the innings pacing shifts dramatically across three distinct phases. He consumed 72 balls reaching 50, prioritizing survival over spectacle.

That early caution paid dividends — once settled, he detonated from 100 to 250 in just 66 deliveries.

The boundary distribution reveals the pattern clearly. Rohit sprinkled boundaries sparingly early, then discharged them relentlessly once Sri Lanka's bowlers broke mentally. He scored 214 runs off 101 balls after that first fifty, turning dot balls into rarities.

His dismissal came on the final delivery — caught by Jayawardene off Kulasekara — leaving him with 264, the highest individual ODI score ever recorded. His historic innings featured 33 fours and 9 sixes, a boundary count that underscores just how completely he dismantled the Sri Lankan bowling attack across those 173 balls.

The record-breaking knock was made possible in part because Sri Lanka's fielders failed to capitalize on their chances, with Rohit surviving a dropped catch when he was on just 4 runs, a moment that would prove catastrophic for the touring side.

The Six Sixes and 33 Fours That Defined Rohit's 264

Behind the ball-by-ball pacing lies an equally revealing story in raw boundary numbers. Rohit's 33 fours and 9 sixes produced 186 boundary runs, roughly 70% of his 264 total. That boundary efficiency tells you exactly how he sustained scoring momentum throughout.

• 33 fours shattered Tendulkar and Sehwag's shared record of 25
• 42 total boundaries eclipsed Sehwag's previous ODI record of 32
• 186 boundary runs broke Shane Watson's prior record of 150
• 28 of 33 fours arrived after the first 50 runs, confirming late-innings dominance

You're watching a deliberate shift from his 2013 double century against Australia, where 16 sixes dominated. Here, fours drove the engine, with sixes providing supplementary bursts during the middle and death overs. His 9 sixes here fell well short of the 16 he struck against Australia, yet the innings still produced a more dominant overall boundary count.

How Kohli and Uthappa Built the Platform for Rohit's 264

While Rohit's 264 rightly commands the spotlight, the partnerships that built the foundation deserve equal attention. Kohli's stabilizing performance proved essential after early wickets fell. He and Rohit constructed a 202-run third-wicket stand, with Kohli contributing 66 runs off 64 balls at a strike rate above 100. Their partnership during the second Powerplay yielded 57 runs, shifting India's momentum decisively.

Once Kohli was run out, Uthappa's controlled cameo kept the pressure on Sri Lanka. Joining at 276/4, Uthappa scored 16 not out off 16 balls, rotating strike intelligently to keep Rohit on strike. Their 128-run fifth-wicket partnership off just 58 balls propelled India to 404/5, securing the platform Rohit needed to finish as cricket's greatest ODI scorer. Remarkably, India's total of 404/5 stands as the 4th highest total in ODI history.

India's dominant display also extended beyond this single match, as their 4-0 series lead heading into the final game underscored just how comprehensively they outclassed Sri Lanka throughout the tour.

The Three Dropped Catches That Changed ODI History

Few moments in cricket history carry the weight of a single missed catch, but the three drops that Sri Lanka gifted Rohit Sharma during his 264 collectively rewrote the record books. The heavy price of dropped catches becomes undeniable when you trace the ripple effect of missed opportunities back to Thisara Perera's fumble at third man when Sharma had just 4 runs.

Perera's miss in the 5th over directly enabled the entire innings. The 46th-over drop came after Sharma had already surpassed 150. The 47th-over miss occurred with Sharma past 200. Sri Lanka conceded a 153-run defeat and surrendered ODI history.

Each missed chance compounded irreversibly, proving fielding lapses can permanently alter cricket's record books. India's total of 404/5 in 50 overs demonstrated the sheer scale of the platform Sharma's reprieve helped construct. Rohit's eventual total of 264 featured 33 boundaries and 9 sixes, underlining just how ruthlessly he punished every reprieve he was gifted.

How Rohit's 264 Powered India to 404-5 Against Sri Lanka

When Rohit Sharma walked off Eden Gardens on 13 November 2014, he'd single-handedly transformed a cricket match into a record-breaking spectacle. His 264 off 173 balls, packed with 33 fours and 9 sixes, drove India to a commanding 404/5 in 50 overs.

You can't overlook the critical role of partnerships in building that total. His 150-run stand with Virat Kohli, who contributed a solid 66 off 64 balls, gave India's innings its backbone. Together, they dismantled Sri Lanka's bowling attack, which conceded 404 runs despite Angelo Mathews' disciplined 2/44.

The impact of this record-breaking performance extended beyond the scoreboard. Sri Lanka crumbled to 251, losing by 153 runs, leaving no doubt that Rohit's innings single-handedly decided the match. Remarkably, this victory marked the 5th instance of India defeating Sri Lanka by a margin of 150 runs or more.

Where Rohit Sharma's 264 Stands in ODI History Today

Rohit Sharma's 264 still sits untouched at the top of ODI cricket's record books, more than 11 years after he walked off Eden Gardens in November 2014. Its strategic significance lies in how it redefined aggressive batting, proving that an opener could sustain elite power-hitting across a full innings. Its global impact continues shaping how coaches and batters approach ODI batting today.

No batter has surpassed 264 in international ODIs since 2014. Rohit uniquely holds two double centuries, at 264 and 209 against Australia. Serious contenders like Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Travis Head haven't broken through yet. His 100-to-250 acceleration in 66 balls remains ODI cricket's most electrifying individual batting sequence. Before Rohit claimed the record, Virender Sehwag held it with a score of 219 against the West Indies in 2011. Among those eyeing the record, Shubman Gill stands closest with 8 ODI centuries and an impressive average of 55.71, making him a serious threat to Rohit's legendary mark.