West Indies piled up 405 in Guwahati, and it still fell short. Shubman Gill smashed an unbeaten 223, the fastest ODI double century and the biggest score ever made while chasing, as India reached the target in only 43.3 overs. Only one other team has ever pulled off a 400 plus chase in the format.
The visitors had started brilliantly. John Campbell struck a 65 ball hundred, the fifth fastest by a West Indian, and Shai Hope went beyond Brian Lara’s tally of 19 ODI centuries. Amir Jangoo then added 114 from 77 deliveries. Hope and Jangoo shared 182 at close to nine an over, and the pair barely needed a risky stroke to do it. Kuldeep Yadav finished with 2 for 65 and became the second fastest Indian to reach 200 wickets. Injuries to Prasidh Krishna and Naman Dhir hurt the hosts, though debutant Auqib Nabi tightened things late, with the last 11 overs yielding 82 runs and five wickets.
The pitch offered almost nothing, and the outfield was lightning fast. Still, the reply demanded serious skill and stamina.
Rohit Sharma began aggressively, reaching fifty in 32 balls, but Gill soon took charge. His hundred arrived in 62 deliveries, and by the time Rohit completed his own ton in 72, the skipper was already on 142 from 82. Together they built 255, India’s highest partnership in a chase. Jayden Seales eventually removed Rohit for 101. Virat Kohli chipped in with a lively 29 before a sharp catch ended his stay.
Gill struck 34 of India’s 56 boundaries. At 27, he owns 11 hundreds in just 69 ODIs, and this knock cemented his place at the top of the format. His helmet on the bat handle celebration even brought Chris Gayle to mind.
A truly remarkable evening, featuring the first ODI with five centuries.
