West Indies’ three tons overshadowed by Gill’s historic 223
Key Points(5)
- Shubman Gill’s record-breaking 223 and Rohit Sharma’s 101 powered India to an extraordinary seven-wicket victory over the West Indies, as the hosts chased 406 with 39 balls remaining to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series.
- On a remarkably flat pitch, the West Indies had appeared to set a formidable target after John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo all struck centuries in a 405 total.
- India, however, produced an even more emphatic response, completing the highest successful ODI chase in the match’s extraordinary 811-run aggregate.
- Gill remained unbeaten on 223 from 133 balls, reaching his double century from just 117 deliveries, nine balls faster than Ishan Kishan’s previous record.
- Rohit contributed 101 from 72 balls and, in the process, became only the third Indian after Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli to reach 12,000 ODI runs.
Shubman Gill’s record-breaking 223 and Rohit Sharma’s 101 powered India to an extraordinary seven-wicket victory over the West Indies, as the hosts chased 406 with 39 balls remaining to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series.
On a remarkably flat pitch, the West Indies had appeared to set a formidable target after John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo all struck centuries in a 405 total.
India, however, produced an even more emphatic response, completing the highest successful ODI chase in the match’s extraordinary 811-run aggregate.
Gill remained unbeaten on 223 from 133 balls, reaching his double century from just 117 deliveries, nine balls faster than Ishan Kishan’s previous record.
Rohit contributed 101 from 72 balls and, in the process, became only the third Indian after Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli to reach 12,000 ODI runs.
The match also became the first ODI in which five batters scored centuries and produced the third-highest aggregate in the format.
Gill turns acceleration into history
Gill’s innings did not begin with the authority that eventually defined it.
Jayden Seales found movement in the opening over, beating Gill again in his next, although a thick under-edge from an attempted cut raced away for four.
West Indies could not sustain that pressure. Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph conceded 14 and 17, respectively, in their opening overs, allowing India to reach 92 without loss after 10 overs.
Rohit had already raced to his half-century from 32 balls.
Gill then shifted gears.
He repeatedly advanced to the spinners and took particular aim at Roston Chase, launching two sixes in one over before reaching his century from just 62 deliveries.
West Indies had an opportunity to disrupt the opening partnership when Keacy Carty dropped Rohit off Vitel Lawes on 84.
The reprieve proved costly.
Rohit went on to complete his 35th ODI century from 72 balls before Seales finally removed him in the 27th over, trapping him lbw with a slower delivery.
His dismissal ended a 255-run opening partnership, just three runs short of Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly’s Indian record.
India’s run rate becomes relentless
Gill showed no sign of slowing down.
He and Kohli plundered 25 runs from Seales’ next over as India reached 300 in only 29.1 overs, the fastest any team has reached that landmark in an ODI.
That was more than three overs quicker than South Africa managed during their celebrated 438 chase.
Kohli eventually fell for 29 from 19 balls, ramping Shamar Joseph toward third man, where Sherfane Rutherford held a sharp catch near the boundary.
Ruturaj Gaikwad then joined Gill, who continued his march toward an unprecedented double century, reaching 150 from 89 balls.
The West Indies attack had little answer to the onslaught.
Debutant Auqib Nabi finished with 0-84 from 8.5 overs, the most expensive debut figures by an Indian bowler, but even that proved incidental against an Indian batting performance of historic proportions.
West Indies build around three centuries
Earlier, the West Indies had made full use of the placid conditions.
With Justin Greaves injured, Carty was promoted to open alongside Campbell. He made nine before Naman Dhir caught him off Prasidh Krishna in the fifth over, with the score on 37.
That remained India’s only Powerplay wicket.
The West Indies reached 96-1 after 10 overs, with Campbell taking control of the innings. He completed his century from 68 balls, striking nine fours and five sixes, and shared a 110-run partnership with Hope before Gurnoor Brar ended the stand.
Hope then combined with Jangoo to produce the innings’ defining partnership.
The pair added 182 from 131 deliveries, with Hope providing the stability and Jangoo supplying the acceleration.
Hope made 104 from 94 balls, while Jangoo transformed his innings after reaching 59 from 54 balls, bringing up his century from only 70 deliveries.
Late collapse costs West Indies
Kuldeep Yadav finally broke the partnership with the last ball of the 40th over, when Hope was caught by Nabi at 329.
Two balls later, Brar dismissed Rutherford for a first-ball duck.
Jangoo departed two overs later to Ravindra Jadeja, while Kuldeep soon claimed Keemo Paul, caught by Kohli, to complete his 200th ODI wicket.
The milestone made Kuldeep the fastest Indian spinner to 200 ODI wickets. Only Mohammed Shami has reached the mark in fewer matches for India.
Roston Chase’s unbeaten 29 from 25 balls pushed the West Indies to 405, but the visitors managed only 76 runs during the final 10 overs.
On this surface, that late slowdown proved decisive.
India’s batsmen made the target look remarkably inadequate, with Gill’s record-breaking 223 completing one of the most dominant successful chases in ODI history.
