Shubman Gill’s 223* Powers India to Record 406 Chase

Shubman Gill produced an unbeaten 223 to lead India to a record-breaking chase of 406 and an eight-wicket victory over West Indies in the second ODI in Guwahati on September 30. India reached 406 for 2 in 43.3 overs, with 39 balls remaining, after West Indies had posted 405 for 7.

Gill’s 223 not out from 133 balls was the highest score in an ODI chase and included a double-century reached in 117 balls, the fastest in ODI history. India became only the second side to complete a successful chase of more than 400 in ODI cricket, doing so at a remarkable pace after a match that featured five centuries.

Rohit Sharma made 101 and shared a 255-run partnership with Gill, India’s biggest partnership in an ODI chase. Virat Kohli added 29 from 19 balls before India completed a pursuit that never lost momentum after the early overs.

Gill and Rohit take control of the chase

West Indies began the defence with Jayden Seales delivering a testing first over, during which Gill nearly played the ball onto his stumps. However, India quickly found their rhythm after Alzarri Joseph’s second over, and the scoring rate rose sharply.

Rohit started rapidly, reaching 35 from 27 balls. Gill responded with a four and a six against Shamar Joseph to move to 36 from 21. Keemo Paul bowled a second free hit to Rohit, who brought up his half-century from 32 deliveries.

Gill then moved through another gear. He charged the fast bowlers, pulled the short deliveries that followed and scored freely against Roston Chase’s offspin. His century came from 62 balls, his quickest ODI hundred and the quickest century of the match.

Rohit reached his own century from 72 balls, but Gill had already surged to 142 from 82. Gill took 18 runs from an over by Seales, who later removed Rohit for 101 with a delivery that seamed in appreciably. Kohli’s 29 came quickly, though Sherfane Rutherford caught him on the boundary.

The final stages belonged entirely to Gill. He hit 34 of India’s 56 boundaries and finished unbeaten as India crossed the target in the 44th over. Gill was named Player of the Match after an innings that also delivered the highest score by a captain in an ODI.

West Indies’ three centuries set a huge target

West Indies’ 405 for 7 was built around centuries from John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo. Campbell struck 101 and brought up a 65-ball hundred, West Indies’ fifth-quickest ODI century. He had scored 101 of the 147 runs made while he was at the crease before falling in the 19th over.

Hope made 104 and Jangoo scored 114 from 77 balls as the pair added 182 at nearly nine an over. Hope moved beyond Brian Lara’s tally of 19 ODI hundreds, while Jangoo accelerated late in his innings, taking 55 runs from his final 23 balls faced.

India’s bowlers faced difficult conditions, with little swing, seam or turn available. Kuldeep Yadav returned 2 for 65 from his 10 overs and became the second-quickest Indian to 200 ODI wickets. Naman Dhir conceded 38 from 6.1 overs with his part-time offspin before an injury ended his involvement, while Prasidh Krishna also left the attack after bowling five overs.

India recovered at the death through wickets and tighter overs. Campbell was caught at deep square leg off Gurnoor Brar, Hope fell to Kuldeep, and Jangoo was caught at point off Ravindra Jadeja. Rutherford made a golden duck, Keemo Paul hit Kuldeep to long-on, and debutant Auqib Nabi delivered three tight overs late in the innings.

That late restraint limited West Indies to 405, but Gill and Rohit ensured the target was not enough. India’s response turned an extraordinary batting day into a landmark ODI win.