Battered by oppressive heat and battling severe leg cramps, India captain Shubman Gill admitted that every muscle in his body was hurting after his record-breaking unbeaten 223 carried India to a historic eight-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second ODI here.
It was also Gill’s second career ODI double century, making him the only captain in cricket history to score double tons in both Tests and ODIs while leading the side. His unbeaten 223 also surpassed Glenn Maxwell’s 201 not out against Afghanistan in 2023 to become the highest individual score in an ODI run-chase.
“I mean, I think every part of my body is cramping right now, and it was very hot in the afternoon. In the face of the monumental task of chasing down 406, the second-highest successful run-chase in ODI history, Gill played an innings of supreme composure laced with 26 boundaries and eight sixes at a monstrous strike rate of 167.67 to complete a victory for India with 39 balls to spare and seal the three-match series, with a game still left to play in New Chandigarh. When we had about 13 overs, it was feeling like we had already fielded for 20-25 overs, the way they were batting.
So great a game, I think,” Gill said at the end of the game.
So very pleased with the performance and very happy that I was able to stay till the end and finish the game for the team,” noted Gill. “Honestly, it’s just about playing; I break the game into small parts. Initially, the ball might do a bit with the new ball. “Once the ball gets old, the wicket would get much better to bat on, and one side was very short, so we thought we were going to target that side whenever the fast bowlers came on.
“I mean, at the halfway mark, 400 on the board, there was a bit of pressure on us. Never, no matter how good the wicket is, no matter how small the ground is, chasing 400 is never easy. First, we had a target in the powerplay that if we get around 75-80 runs without losing any wicket, that would be a good start. And at about 25 overs, I thought if we were around 200-210, we’d be in a good space. Gill remained brutally honest about India’s bowling performance in the first half of the match, noting that the Caribbean batters took early control before the hosts staged a late comeback to restrict them to 405/7 While pleased with the bat.
