The game of cricket has evolved in a manner that is nothing short of remarkable, especially in the ODI format, where scoring a double century was considered impossible. But here we are in 2024, marveling at how fast double centuries in ODI cricket have changed the landscape of the game. From Sachin Tendulkar's first ODI double ton to Ishan Kishan's 126-ball masterpiece, these out-of-the-box innings have redefined what is possible in limited-overs cricket. Most recently, the sub-trend of fastest double centuries in ODI cricket has been thriving with Indian batsmen being the rich men on this elite list. This makes the scenario particularly interesting: such marathon innings, initially better suited to Test cricket, now managed to carve a niche of their own within the game that was at its best fast-paced. These marvelous Fastest Double Centuries in ODI Cricket are not merely statistical milestones but testimonies to how modern cricket keeps evolving. Top 10 Fastest Double Centuries in ODI Cricket Rank Player Balls to 200 Final Score Opposition Year Venue 1 Ishan Kishan 126 210 (131) Bangladesh 2022 Chattogram 2 Glenn Maxwell 128 201* (128) Afghanistan 2023 Mumbai 3 Pathum Nissanka 136 210* (139) Afghanistan 2024 Pallekele 4 Chris Gayle 138 215 (147) Zimbabwe 2015 Canberra 5 Virender Sehwag 140 219 (149) West Indies 2011 Indore 6 Shubman Gill 145 208 (149) New Zealand 2023 Hyderabad 7 Sachin Tendulkar 147 200* (147) South Africa 2010 Gwalior 8 Fakhar Zaman 148 210* (156) Zimbabwe 2018 Bulawayo 9 Rohit Sharma 151 264 (173) Sri Lanka 2014 Kolkata 10 Rohit Sharma 151 208* (153) Sri Lanka 2017 Mohali Fastest Double Centuries in ODI Cricket Ishan Kishan (126 balls vs Bangladesh, 2022) Image Source : Associated Press The current record holder for the Fastest Double Centuries in ODI Cricket, Ishan Kishan's innings of 210 off 131 balls was a masterclass in aggressive batting. The left-handed dynamo smashed 24 fours and 10 sixes, forming a memorable partnership with Virat Kohli worth 290 runs. Bangladesh eventually succumbed to a 227-run defeat at the hands of 409/8 total by India. Glenn Maxwell (128 balls vs Afghanistan, 2023) Image Source : Getty Images Perhaps the most unbelievable of all the Fastest Double Centuries in ODI Cricket were Glenn Maxwell's, and this came in the 2023 World Cup against Afghanistan. With Australia facing complete meltdown at 91/7, Maxwell started fighting back, batting out of his wits in some of the most unbearable cramps, completing a century, and finishing with an unbeaten 201* on the team, single-handedly taking Australia home from such an embarrassing situation. Also Read | Highest Individual Score in IPL History: Batting Brilliant Exhibitions Pathum Nissanka (136 balls vs Afghanistan, 2024) Image Source : Getty Images Sri Lanka's first entry into the Fastest Double Centuries in ODI Cricket club came through the brilliant 210* by Pathum Nissanka off 139 balls. His innings, with 20 fours and 8 sixes, was all the more special as it was the first time a Sri Lankan had done so on his home soil in Pallekele. Chris Gayle (138 balls vs Zimbabwe, 2015) Image Source : Getty Images The 'Universe Boss' became the first player to make a double century in World Cup cricket. His devastating 215 off 147 balls included 10 fours and an astonishing 16 sixes, setting up a commanding win for the West Indies. The innings showed Gayle's rare ability to marry strength with long-stay capabilities. Virender Sehwag (140 balls vs West Indies, 2011) Image Source : Associated Press Sehwag's 219 off 149 balls was characteristic of his aggressive batting philosophy. He reached his double hundred in 140 balls peppering the ground at Indore with 25 fours and 7 sixes, only the second player to score an ODI double century after Tendulkar. Shubman Gill (145 balls vs New Zealand, 2023) Image Source : Getty Images Gill was the youngest in the list of Fastest Double Centuries in ODI Cricket but displayed great talent with 208 off 149 balls. His innings had 19 fours and 9 sixes. The next top score for India was only 31. Sachin Tendulkar (147 balls vs South Africa, 2010) Image Source : Getty Images It was the first-ever ODI double century, breaking what had been believed to be an unbreakable barrier. Perfect aggression and technique were witnessed by the 25 fours and 3 sixes in Tendulkar's innings. Fakhar Zaman (148 balls v Zimbabwe, 2018) Image Source : Getty Images Pakistan's only member of the elite list, Zaman's 210* off 156 balls was part of record 304-run opening stand. His knock, replete with 24 fours and 5 sixes, showed how to convert start into big innings. Also Read | Most Double Hundreds in ODI Cricket: Players & Records Rohit Sharma Twin Entries Image Source : Getty Images Rohit Sharma is the only batsman to appear twice in the list of the Fastest Double Centuries in ODI Cricket history. His conversion rate at big scores has been pretty consistent over time. He scored his highest individual score in ODI cricket when he hit 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014, and when he made 208* in 2017, he showed off his appetite for bigger scores. Conclusion In fact, the history of the Fastest Double Centuries in ODI Cricket shows how the game has undergone a change over the years. Rare till Tendulkar cracked this nut in 2010, the fastest double hundred has now become a yardstick for explosive batting. A total of seven out of ten double hundreds were scored by Indian batsmen alone, which is enough to confirm that aggressive batting coming out from the subcontinent has reshaped the prescriptions for batting quality of an ODI.These innings testify to the human potential and the ever-changing nature of cricket as is being done by the new generations that inspire and challenge the boundaries of what can be achieved in the format.