New Delhi: On Wednesday, India’s renowned opener Rohit Sharma, a contemporary titan of white-ball cricket, celebrated his 38th birthday. Throughout his successful career, the Indian “Hitman” has played several remarkable innings, but his whirlwind against Sri Lanka in 2014—the renowned 264 folklore—possibly stands out above the others.

‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar lifted the bar in the 50-over format with a double century against South Africa at Gwalior in 2010 before Rohit established a new record in the ODI format in 2014. On that day, the whole globe froze, watched in a daze, and couldn’t comprehend that someone had really hit the elusive 200-run barrier in ODIs.

Rohit had already reached the double hundred mark in the format in 2013, so it wasn’t his first time. However, his heroic performance in 2014 really set the standard for everyone and defined the art of batting. The record for the greatest individual score in ODI history is still the otherworldly 264 runs that Rohit’s bat produced.

After four years, something extraordinary happened at Kolkata’s famous Eden Gardens, the site of cricket. Few people could understand the knock when they watched to see what Rohit would put on the plate.

Had Rohit not survived that early fright, his bravery would have been lost to history. Sri Lanka lamented this moment for the remainder of the match as Thisara Perera dropped Rohit on 4(16), a legal catch that Perera inexplicably failed to make.

For his first 100 runs, Rohit was alert and careful as the sun shone over Eden. Once Rohit crossed the line, however, he was free to express himself without worrying about the consequences.

In the following 25 deliveries, he reached the 150-run milestone while dancing about the crease, grinning broadly, and hitting boundaries with style. Rohit trapped Seekuge Prasanna and Angelo Mathews in his seemingly endless fire.

Over the course of the next 26 deliveries, Rohit fully embraced his destructive nature, causing a calamity that anyone who saw it can still clearly remember. To reach the 200-run milestone, he swung his bat fiercely and displayed his nerve while hitting boundaries with various strokes from his full arsenal.

He cheered, raising his arms as if to embrace the sky. Rohit proved that his adventures were not yet over. He really demonstrated how six-hitting comes naturally to him in the last 22 deliveries. He hit the ball over the fence in the desired spot regardless of the line and length of the deliveries.

Rohit dominated Sri Lanka with nine boundaries and three sixes in his last 22 deliveries. When he holed it to Mahela Jayawardene off Nuwan Kulasekara on 264 (173), his adventures came to an end. India soared to a 404/5, much above Sri Lanka’s capabilities. Having cemented his legacy, Rohit savored the moment as India celebrated their 153-run victory.