Indian captain Shubman Gill faced intense heat and severe cramps but still managed to shine with a remarkable unbeaten 223 runs against the West Indies in the second ODI. His historic innings propelled India to an eight-wicket victory, marking a significant achievement in the series.
Gill acknowledged the physical toll of the match, stating that every muscle in his body was aching after the grueling effort. Despite the challenges posed by the weather, he expressed immense satisfaction in leading his team to victory.
Chasing a daunting target of 406 runs, which stands as the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history, Gill displayed remarkable composure. He struck 26 fours and eight sixes, securing the win with 39 balls to spare. This victory also clinched the series for India, with one match still remaining in New Chandigarh.
Reflecting on his performance, Gill remarked, “I feel like every part of my body is cramping. It was extremely hot in the afternoon. With about 13 overs left, it felt like we had already fielded for 20-25 overs given how they were batting. I think it was a fantastic match.”
He reached his 150 runs off 89 balls and completed his double century in the 39th over, breaking Ishan Kishan’s record for the fastest ODI double century, which was achieved off 126 balls. This marked Gill’s second double century in ODIs and made him the only captain in cricket history to score double centuries in both Tests and ODIs.
Gill’s innings surpassed Glenn Maxwell’s unbeaten 201 runs against Afghanistan in 2023, setting a new record for the highest individual score in an ODI run chase.
“Chasing 400 runs is never easy, so I’m very happy with this performance and that I stayed till the end to finish the match for the team,” he said.
Discussing his strategy during the chase, Gill explained how he and opening partner broke the large target into manageable parts. He noted, “Honestly, it’s just about playing; I break the game into smaller segments. Our initial goal in the powerplay was to score around 75-80 runs without losing a wicket for a good start.”
He added, “After the powerplay, we never felt any significant pressure. The pressure was more on them. Not losing a wicket until halfway through our innings was a big bonus for us.”
Despite his batting success, Gill critiqued the bowling performance during the of the match. “I felt we didn’t bowl well in the powerplay, similar to the first match. They batted freely, and at one point, it looked like they could score 420-430 runs. However, turning the game back in our favor towards the end, even by 25-30 runs, felt like a bonus.”
With the series already secured, Gill hinted that the team management might test bench strength in the upcoming third ODI. “Maybe. I definitely want to give opportunities to players who haven’t played yet. Hopefully, we will find the right combination and give them a chance,” he concluded.