Shubman GillWednesday, who became the youngest player to score a double century in ODIs, expressed that he wanted to put New Zealand bowlers under pressure and it paid off. Gill played a brilliant innings of 208 runs from 149 balls, which included 19 fours and nine sixes, and took India to 349/8.
Receiving the player of the match award after India’s 12-run win over New Zealand in the series opener, Gill said, “I was waiting impatiently to go out and do what I want to do.”
Gill took 19 innings to complete 1000 runs in ODIs, joint second fastest to the feat imam ul haq, Here is the list of top 5 Indian players who scored fastest 1000 ODI runs:
- Shubman Gill – 19 innings, IND vs NZ (18 January 2023)
- Virat Kohli – 24 innings, India v Sri Lanka (5 June 2010)
- Shikhar Dhawan – 24 innings, India v Australia (30 October 2013)
- Navjot Singh Sidhu – 25 innings, IND vs SL (22 October 1989)
- Shreyas Iyer – 25 innings, IND vs WI (22 July 2022)
Gill capped off his innings brilliantly by bringing up his maiden half-century off 52 balls. He went from 50 to 100 in just 35 balls and then from 100 to 150 in 35 balls. But it was his final flurry that saw the pace rise, with Gill going from 150 to 200 in just 23 balls, hitting three consecutive sixes to pass the double century mark.
Talking about his strategy, Gill said, “There were times when I wanted to play freely with the wickets falling and I’m glad I could do it in the end. Sometimes when the bowlers are on top, you have to make them feel the pressure.” is needed.”
“I needed to avoid the dot balls and show some intent and hit hard in the gaps which I was doing.
“I wasn’t really thinking of 200, but once I hit sixes in the 47th over, I thought I could. Before that, I was playing what was coming to me.”
At the age of 23 years and 132 days, Gill is now the youngest player to score a double century in men’s ODIs. Top 5 youngest players to achieve this feat.
- Shubman Gill (India) – 23 years 132 days
- Ishan Kishan (India) – 24 years 145 days
- Rohit Sharma (India) – 26 years 186 days
- Rohit Sharma (India) – 27 years 197 days
- Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) – 28 years 101 days
“It (the double ton) sinks in very well. I wouldn’t call it a ‘wow’ feeling, but it feels good when the ball goes off the bat the way you want it to.
“There’s definitely a sense of satisfaction. It’s definitely one of those things, like what dreams are made of,” Gill said.
Indian captain Rohit Sharma also praised Gill fiercely.
“Gill’s bat is brilliant to watch, clean striking and no aerial shots.
The kind of form he was in, we wanted to give him a run before the Sri Lanka series.