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Two for the record

*After months of uncertainty and hard work, Rohit Sharma slams breathtaking 264 in his comeback innings *Becomes the only batsman to score two double tons in ODIs *India beat Sri Lanka by 153 runs

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Rohit Sharma celebrates during his record-breaking knock of 264 against Sri Lanka at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday
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Nothing lasts forever, even cold November rain, sang Axl Rose.

About an hour after India beat Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI at Kolkata, the match in which Rohit Sharma scored a record 264, it started raining in his city — Mumbai — atleast in some parts.
Symbolically, it couldn't have rained at a better time and metaphorically, Sharma can fathom this song in different layers.

Sharma appears to have a certain degree of affinity for November. His herculean effort on Thursday to get the highest ever individual score in the ODIs, only affirms it. It was in the same month last year that he made his Test debut at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and scored two centuries in the first two games.

For Sharma, one more meaning of the line from the Guns 'n' Roses hit, could be that his record breaking knock, which makes him the only batsman to score two double hundreds in ODIs, comes after months of uncertainty, when he was injured, out of the team and doubtful of his place in the squad for World Cup early next year. He possibly assured himself with that knock on Thursday that no matter how bleak the going may be, it will not last forever.

Prior to his comeback, it was a harrowing time for Sharma. He was out of action due to the broken middle finger of his right hand — an injury he picked up during the series in England. Battling many doubts and with an eye on competition from other batsmen, he worked hard on his fitness and his game hoping for a quick return to the national team.

"When you are injured, it's important that you have to maintain your body well. A lot of stuff has been given to me to follow. I am doing lower body exercises since I cannot lift anything for upper body" Rohit had told dna during his recovery period.

During the break, Sharma met his childhood and school coach Dinesh Lad, but did not talk cricket. His coach, however, could understand what his ward was going through.

"We met around a month back but did not talk cricket. But I could sense that he was desperate to get back to the Indian team. He was normal and confident of himself but his eyes did betray his desperation to make it to the squad for World Cup, which he missed out in 2011," said Lad.

While Sharma was recovering, Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane were being talked about as the next opening pair for Team India.

Head coach of the BCCI special academy, Lalchand Rajput, had been working with Sharma during the latter's rehab from the time he last played for India in Cardiff in August end and till Thursday's epic knock.

Rajput said he had told Sharma to score big if he has to seal his place as an opener in the ODIs. "There is a lot of competition for that spot, now that Ajinkya is also getting runs as an opener. Dhawan is always there. I told Rohit that it'd be difficult unless he scores big."

An official of Mumbai Cricket Association's academy in BKC said, "Rohit was working very hard. He would never miss out on practice and always be on time. At the nets, his only demand was to have good wickets. He would get local bowlers and face them. One could see the hunger in him to get back into the Indian side."

In his interview to dna on October 30, an undeterred Rohit said he had certain goals and the competition for the opening slot mattered little to him. His Thursday's knock at the Eden Gardens appears to be a manifestation of that belief.

"Thursday's knock shows that Rohit is gritty. He has made a mark for himself and be an integral part of the team for the World Cup," said Rajput.

Lad said, "I did not see his innings, but I can imagine how he would have batted having seen him for so long. I have no words to express but it is simply unbelievable. I am proud of him" said Lad.

On Thursday, the 27-year-old batted as if he had been batting all November, and all days of the year. He did not bat like one who was playing his first international innings after recovering from injury.

Some of his strokes that yielded in all 33 fours and nine sixes were mind boggling and his timing —impeccable.

For an individual to score that many runs speaks much about Sharma's talent. So much has the ODI evolved that from the days when team totals of anywhere between 200 and 250 was considered a winning total, Sharma has scored more than that all by himself.

And, when he was eventually caught at the long off boundary off the last ball, the rare occasion when he did not find the gap, he had scored 65.35 per cent of his team's total, more than the 54.57 per cent that was his share in the team's total when he amassed 209 in Bangalore against the Aussies last year.

As it turned out, Sharma's individual score was more than the entire Lankan team put together on the day.

"This is the beginning of a new chapter for Rohit. He now has to live up to that reputation," said Rajput.

It is not easy to score a big hundred on one's return from injury. Sharma did it, not once but twice. His first game on return saw him score a chanceless 142 against the mediocre Lankan attack in the warm-up game at the Barbourne Stadium on October 30. And Thursday's was almost double that score.

"It is always difficult to straightaway score aplently when you are returning from an injury. You have to be mentally strong. This shows his character. He has always had volumes of talent. One thing about Rohit is that he has got a lot of time to play his shots.

"For a while in his career, he was a bit casual. Now he knows that there is a lot of competition. From now on, he must keep going."

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