Joseph Hoover

Hamilton, Mar 11 (PTI) Given the small size of the grounds in New Zealand, an individual double century in an ODI is quite a possibility, reckons India’s swashbuckling opener Virender Sehwag.

Sehwag, who hammered the fastest ODI century by an Indian in the fourth match against New Zealand today, was of the view that the milestone is well within reach of the batsmen provided the match was played in the smaller grounds of New Zealand.

“It is achievable in New Zealand because of the small grounds. Sachin (Tendulkar) was very close to achieving it (in the third ODI in Christchurch), as he still had five overs left in the innings before he retired hurt. If someone bats 50 overs on small grounds, he could possibly score a double. Matthew Hayden batted 50 overs and made 180 plus. So he was very close to it,” said Sehwag, who blasted a 60-ball ton today to eclipse Mohammad Azharuddin’s 62-ball century against the Kiwis in 1988.

Incidentally, hard-hitting New Zealand opener Brendon McCullum yesterday felt Sehwag — along with Tendulkar and West Indies captain Chris Gayle — had the potential to reach the milestone. PTI