On This Day: Rohit Sharma smashes highest individual score in ODI history at iconic Eden Gardens

On this day (November 13) in 2014, Rohit Sharma made the cricket fraternity sit up and take notice of his surreal talent, when he smashed an awe-inspiring 264 against Sri Lanka, at the iconic Eden Gardens, in Kolkata. This continues to be the highest individual score in ODI cricket.

India and Sri Lanka played a five-match ODI series in November 2014. The Men in Blue already took an unassailable 3-0 lead after winning the first three games in Cuttack, Ahmedabad, and Hyderabad. The two teams arrived in Kolkata to play the inconsequential fourth ODI.

Stand-in captain Virat Kohli won the toss and opted to bat first, much to the joy of the passionate fans in the stadium. Ajinkya Rahane was the first batter to be dismissed after he scored a fluent 28 off 24 balls. Ambati Rayudu also departed cheaply before Virat joined Rohit at the crease. The duo formed a scintillating 201-run partnership to set things up for a strong finish for India. Kohli was unfortunately run out for 66 but Rohit went from strength to strength.

It is worth mentioning that Rohit got a reprieve early in his innings as Thisara Perera dropped a straightforward chance at third man when the right-handed batter was batting on four. Sri Lanka had to pay a heavy price for this missed opportunity, as Rohit took the opposition bowlers to the cleaners.

Check out Rohit Sharma's historical knock here:

Suresh Raina hit a four and a six in his five-ball stay at the crease before Robin Uthappa joined forces with a rampaging Rohit. Uthappa gave as much strike to Rohit as possible in the latter stages of the innings and enjoyed the show from the non-striker's end.

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The current Indian captain eventually finished on 264 off 173 balls, hitting a staggering 33 fours and nine sixes. Rohit and Uthappa stitched a 128-run partnership in which the latter contributed just 16 runs. Rohit was dismissed off the last ball of the over by Nuwan Kulasekara.

Rohit Sharma broke Virender Sehwag's record

Virender Sehwag held the record for the highest individual score in ODI cricket before Rohit's blitzkrieg at Eden Gardens. The Nawab of Najafgarh had smashed 219 against the West Indies in Indore three years ago. Sri Lanka were understandably rattled after Rohit's epic knock and they were eventually bowled out for 251, as Dhawal Kulkarni stood out with a four-for.