Published By: Sayan Guha

On This Day (Nov 2): Rohit’s Ruthless 209 Powers India to Win the Most Explosive ODI Series Ever Against Australia

A series of mind-boggling sixes, high scores, and jaw-dropping moments, all leading to one epic double-century that sealed India’s victory

The 2013 India-Australia seven-match ODI series was more than another chapter in the two countries' cricket rivalry; it redefined high-scoring thrillers. Across seven matches, both sides scored 3,596 runs in just 11 innings. From enormous run chases to thrilling centuries, this series had it all, including plenty of explosives in the shape of sixes.

Hitman's 1st double century in ODI

While the series was full of spectacular performances, it's tough to overlook Rohit Sharma's historic double century in the series decider in Bangalore. On this day in 2013, The Hitman scored 209 off 158 balls, including a world record 16 sixes in an ODI innings, becoming the third Indian batter to do so. India scored 383/6, setting a difficult mark for the Australians. Despite the large score, Australia refused to give up without a fight, setting the tone for an already dramatic series.

EA Sports or international cricket? 

What actually defined this series was the sheer number of runs scored, much like in a computer game. Five of the seven matches saw both teams score 300 runs. In fact, the total of 3,596 runs established a new record for a bilateral ODI series. Here's a look at the top scores and record-breaking moments:

1st ODI (Pune): Australia 304/8—Australia's score of 304 in the series opener indicated the scoring feast ahead. India fell short, scoring only 232 in the chase.


2nd ODI (Jaipur): India 362/1 – Chasing Australia's formidable 359, India strolled to a remarkable 9-wicket win with 39 balls to spare, thanks to Virat Kohli's scorching 100* off only 52 deliveries and Rohit Sharma's 141. This match witnessed a total of 721 runs scored in one game.


3rd ODI (Mohali): Australia 304/6 – James Faulkner's stunning 64* off 29 balls won a dramatic victory for Australia, who knocked down India's 303 (MS Dhoni 139) with only three balls remaining.

4th ODI (Ranchi): Australia 295/8 – Rain ruined the show, leaving it incomplete. But not until George Bailey's steady 98 and Glenn Maxwell's blazing 92 from 77 balls put Australia on top.

5th ODI (Cuttack): The match was abandoned due to heavy rain, but fans were still buzzing from the earlier run-fests.


6th ODI (Nagpur): India 351/4 – India completed another remarkable chase, chasing Australia's 350, with Virat Kohli's astonishing 115* off 66 balls and Shikhar Dawan's 100 leading the way. Geroge Bailey (156) and Shane Watson (102) had centuries in this match earlier.

7th ODI (Bangalore): India 383/6 – Rohit Sharma's double century stole the stage as India scored their highest total of the series. Australia made a brave attempt, scoring 326 runs, topped by James Faulkner's 116 off 73 balls.

A series to remember 

The series witnessed bowlers being hammered for over 100 runs in one innings, while 38 sixes were struck in a single game. The flat pitches, small boundaries, and aggressive batting from both teams made the series a run-scoring fiesta, with nine batters playing 100+ innings.

Nine innings saw both teams break the 300-run barrier, an unprecedented performance in ODI cricket at that time. Bowlers such as Vinay Kumar and Clint McKay struggled to control the batters, with Kumar allowing a record of 102 runs in one single innings.

Players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, George Bailey, and James Faulkner stood out individually. Kohli's masterpiece in Jaipur was the quickest century by an Indian in ODIs, coming off 52 balls. Faulkner's gutsy batting deeper down the order helped him smash the record for the fastest ODI century by an Australian, scoring 100 in just 57 deliveries in Bangalore.