Meet Rohit Sharma, the "record breaker" Indian batsman

New Delhi: A year after his first double ton in ODI cricket, Rohit Sharma repeated the feat and crossed the milestone of a record 250 runs in an ODI innings against Sri Lanka in the ongoing 5-match series on Thursday at Eden Gardens, Kolkata also known as "Mecca of Indian Cricket".He required just 173 balls to amass his individual total upto 264 runs which was decorated by 33 fours and 9 sixes. He batted right from the first over of the innings and stayed till last ball of the innings when he was finally dismissed.His innings stunned many cricket veterans around the world and it is almost certain that this record will not be broken anytime soon.Let's know more about this Indian record breaker:The only double century maker in ODI cricket on two occassions and sensational Indian opener, Rohit Sharma is a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm off break bowler. He plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket. He is also the captain of Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.In the India-Australia series last year in November, he tore apart Aussie bowling attack and helped India in winning the series 3-2 with his breath taking first double hundred of 209 off 158 balls.Rohit is now the third batsman to do so and also break the record of maximum sixes in an ODI innings with his 16 sixes. Earlier the record was made by Shane Watson of 15 sixes against Bangladesh. Having started his international career at the age of 20, Rohit Sharma quickly exhibited his athletic fielding and cool temperament to complement his graceful stroke play.Rohit Sharma was born on April 30, 1987 to Gurunath Sharma and Poornima Sharma in a Telugu-speaking family in Nagpur. His family originates from Andhra Pradesh. Rohit Sharma completed his primary education at Our Lady of Vailankanni High School Borivali, Mumbai. He was later enrolled in the Swami Vivekanand International School Borivali on a scholarship, after his talent was noticed by the school's cricket coach Dinesh Lad at a summer camp. He excelled in the Giles and Harris Shield school cricket tournaments, after which he was selected for the Mumbai Under-17 team. He was later chosen for India's Under-17 and Under-19 teams, and made his mark at the 2006 U-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka, finishing among the top run-getters in the tournament. He made his Ranji Trophy debut for his First-class side Mumbai in the 2006/2007 season. He scored 205 off 267 balls in the match against Gujarat. Sharma made his List A debut for West Zone against Central Zone in the Deodhar Trophy in March 2006, at Gwalior.It was his unbeaten innings of 142 in 123 balls against North Zone at Udaipur in the same tournament, that brought him into the limelight. In December 2009, Sharma scored a triple century in the Ranji Trophy and was recalled to the ODI team for the tri-nations tournament in Bangladesh as Tendulkar was being rested.He scored his maiden ODI century (114) against Zimbabwe on May 28, 2010. He followed it up with another century in the next match of the tri-series against Sri Lanka on May 30, 2010 by scoring 101 not out.Rohit Sharma is one of the most successful players in IPL and has the unique record of finishing the match by scoring a last-ball six. He has one IPL century and a hatrick to his name. On the lighter side, he had been seen spending a good time with Sofia Hayat. Both were seen having a coffee at one of the hotels in Mumbai. They had also been spotted going on an outing with other friends.Bringing an end to the rumours in the media, Sofia said that she has stopped dating Sharma and now she is looking for a true gentleman this time. She tweeted, “Ok, let's put the rumours to end. Yes I dated Rohit Sharma. Now it's over. I wouldn't date him again. This time I'm looking for a gentleman.” Revealing the reasons behind break-up, Hayat said that she was disappointed by the cricketer's behaviour when he refused to accept her as girlfriend in front of media. Number 13 may sound to be unlucky for many, but for Rohit it is certainly not. He will mark the date 13th November 2014 in his fond memories, the day he broke all batting records in ODI cricket.In 4th ODI of the 5-match series against Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma above from everybody's expectations smashed a record breaking 264 runs innings and took India's total to 404/5 in 50 overs.This was the 5th occassion when India crossed the 400 run mark and Rohit becomes the only batsman to score a double century in ODI cricket in two different occassions. He not only breaks Sehwag's record of 219 runs, but made 45 runs more to cross individual 250 plus total in ODI cricket.He scored his first century in 100 balls, second hundred in 51 balls and needed just 16 balls to get to his 250 from 200.His innings was decorated with 33 fours and 9 sixes which made him a batsman with the highest number of fours in an innings. Rohit was a given a guard of honour after he returned to pavilion.Indian bowlers did their job as well and bowled out Sri Lanka for a mere 251, leading India to another comprehensive victory against the islanders by 153 runs.After Rohit's 264, it would not be wrong to say that Rohit Sharma defeated Sri Lanka by 13 runs.