One Day International cricket has produced some of the most breathtaking batting displays in the sport's history. The quest for the highest individual score in ODI cricket has captivated fans for decades, with records tumbling as the game evolves. In this comprehensive guide, we rank every innings that has defined ODI batting greatness — from Rohit Sharma's monumental 264 to the legendary knocks of Sachin Tendulkar and Viv Richards.
Here is the definitive top 20 list of the highest individual scores ever recorded in men's ODI cricket, updated through 2026:
On November 13, 2014, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Rohit Sharma played what many consider the greatest ODI innings of all time. Coming in at his usual opening position, Rohit began cautiously before unleashing an assault that the Sri Lankan bowlers simply could not contain. His 264 came off just 173 balls and included 33 fours and 9 sixes.
What makes Rohit's innings extraordinary is that he is the only batsman in ODI history to score three double centuries. His 209 against Australia in Bangalore (2013) first announced his ability to play marathon innings, and his 208* against Sri Lanka in Mohali (2017) confirmed his unmatched consistency at the highest level. No other batsman has scored even two ODI double hundreds.
Martin Guptill's 237 not out against the West Indies in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final in Wellington remains the highest score in World Cup history. Arriving at the crease with New Zealand needing a big performance, Guptill delivered one of cricket's most commanding innings. His knock included 24 fours and 11 sixes, and he batted through the entire innings. It surpassed Chris Gayle's 215, which had been scored just weeks earlier in the same tournament.
Perhaps the most bittersweet entry on this list, Fakhar Zaman's 210 not out against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo came in a chase of 400. Despite his heroic effort, Pakistan fell short, making this one of the highest scores in a losing ODI cause. Fakhar's innings included 24 fours and 5 sixes, and he batted until the final ball.
When Sachin Tendulkar scored 200 not out against South Africa in Gwalior on February 24, 2010, he broke a barrier many thought would never fall. For decades, the ODI record had hovered around the 190s, with Saeed Anwar's 194 (1997) and Charles Coventry's 194* (2009) falling agonizingly short. Tendulkar's milestone changed the landscape of ODI batting forever, and within five years, four more players would join the double-century club.
The evolution of highest individual scores in ODI cricket tells the story of the format itself. In the 1970s and 1980s, scores above 150 were considered extraordinary. Viv Richards' 189* in 1984 stood as the record for over a decade. Saeed Anwar pushed it to 194 in 1997, and the barrier finally broke with Tendulkar's 200* in 2010. Since then, the 200+ club has grown rapidly, with India's batsmen dominating the list.
India holds 6 of the top 10 highest individual ODI scores — a testament to the nation's batting riches and the flat, high-scoring pitches that have characterized Indian grounds.
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