Mumbai: Dates are relevant in terms of recalling history and February 24, 2015 is no different. On Tuesday, when West Indies batsman Chris Gayle slammed a double hundred (215 off 147) in the Pool B tie against Zimbabwe in a World Cup match, many Indian fans might have strolled down memory lane. After all, the first-ever 200 scored in a One Day International match (ODI) – by Sachin Tendulkar against South Africa in Gwalior in 2010 – happened on the same day.
Tendulkar, now retired, remained unbeaten on 200 off 147 balls with 25 boundaries and three sixes. India won the match by 153 runs.
Gayle, on the other hand, achieved the feat in 138 balls with 16 sixes and 10 boundaries becoming the first non-Indian to score a double century in an ODI match and also the first one to do so in World Cup.
Virender Sehwag and Rohit Sharma are the other Indians in the milieu apart from Tendulkar. Sharma is one notch higher for he has two ODI double tons - against Australia and Sri Lanka and is also the highest run-scorer (264) till now.
When Tendulkar had taken guard in the spring of 2010 against the likes of Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell nobody expected him to smash a 200. The South African speedster conceded 89 off 10 overs and also remained wicketless. Parnell conceded 95 but picked up two wickets.
Similarly, few thought West Indies – who lost to Ireland in their World Cup opener – to fire against Pakistan and post a 350-plus against Zimbabwe, the team that gave South Africa jitters earlier in the tournament.
In such a scenario, Gayle’s innings is a loud shout to the critics and also, West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) who leave no stone unturned to poke fun at the cricketer.
Recently, WICB president Dave Cameron, on Twitter, retweeted a post where a fan criticised Gayle and proposed a “retirement package” for the player.
The tweet said: “Gayle goes... Can't buy a run. Let's give him a retirement package ... Can't fail repeatedly and still front up based on reputation.”
Nonetheless, going by the time cycle between the two double hundreds of the stalwarts (five years), keep your eyes open on February 24, 2019.
