February 24, 2010Sachin Tendulkar becomes first man to score maiden ODI double hundred

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar became the first male cricketer in history to score a double hundred in an ODI, scoring 200 not out against South Africa at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior on this day thirteen years ago. Tendulkar guided the ball – bowled well outside off – towards the point on the third delivery of the 50th over and immediately called the then-Indian skipper MS Dhoni for a quick single.

As soon as the Master Blaster completed the run, the commentator Ravi Shastri said”The first man on the planet to reach 200 and it’s the superman from India — Sachin Tendulkar’s 200 from 147. Take a bow, master.” No other male cricketer had ever reached 200 ODIs before Tendulkar. However, in a women’s World Cup match against Denmark in 1997, Australian cricketer Belinda Clark became the first to score an ODI double century.

Tendulkar smashed 25 fours and three sixes during his historic knock and remained unbeaten throughout the match. India posted 401/3 on the board, aided by Dhoni’s heroics in the death overs, while the Proteas were bowled out for 248. Almost 30,000 fans in the stands witnessed Tendulkar’s magic in the second ODI of the home series against South Africa. Tendulkar’s previous best was 186 not out against New Zealand in November 1999 in Hyderabad. Tendulkar had dedicated the knock to the “people of India”.

“I would like to dedicate this double hundred to the people of India who have stood by me no matter what for the last 20 years. There have been ups and downs, but they have supported me,” Tendulkar, who was the man of the match, said at the presentation ceremony. Overall, 10 double hundreds have been scored in international ODI men’s cricket, in which seven of them have come from India’s batter’s bat.