Gill’s ODI double century puts India 1-0 up on New Zealand

As India held their nerves to win a high-scoring thriller by 12 runs against New Zealand in the first ODI against at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

Hyderabad: Touted as the future Indian cricket super star, Shubman Gill showcased his full potential with an array of strokes en route to his maiden double century (208 off 149; 19×4, 9×6), as India held their nerves to win a high-scoring thriller by 12 runs against New Zealand in the first ODI at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

In front of a near-full-capacity crowd, Gill put his prowess on display to power India to 349/8. What looked like a smooth passage for India at the half-way stage of the chase when the visitors were reduced to 131/6 in the 25th over, Michael Bracewell played a blinder of a knock hitting 140 in just 78 balls to take his side close to the victory. With Mitchell Santner, Bracewell added 162 off 102 deliveries for the seventh wicket. Needing 20 off the final over with one wicket in hand, Bracewell launched Thakur for a six to reduce the required equation to 13 from five. But Shardul caught Bracewell in front of the wickets to take his side over the line.

Local lad Mohammed Siraj returned with the best figures at the venue with 4/46 while Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets.

Earlier, Gill achieved several milestones during his scintillating knock. He became the fifth Indian after Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan to score double centuries in ODIs. He also became the fastest Indian and second-joint fastest overall to the 1,000 runs in ODIs. He took 19 innings for the milestone to surpass Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan (24 innings). Fakhar Zaman, with 18 innings, was the fastest.

Choosing to bat first, Rohit Sharma and Gill provided a good platform adding 60 runs in 12 overs. Rohit threw away his wicket after promising start, mis-timing a Blair Tickner’s delivery to give Daryl Mitchell a simple catch at mid-on. Virat Kohli (8) missed a straighter one from Mitchell Santner to be bowled.

Gill got lucky when Latham dropped him on 45. The keeper failed to hold on to a faint edge and also could not gather the ball for a stumping. Ishan Kishan, who was coming after his epic double ton against Bangladesh, failed to make use of the opportunity as he edged Lockie Ferguson to wicketkeeper Tom Latham as hosts lost three wickets for 110 in the 20th over.

With Suryakumar Yadav (31), Gill added 64 runs for the third wicket before the former was caught at mid-off off Mitchell. Gill pulled Santner for a six over mid-wicket and took a single to reach his third century in his career in 87 balls. Gill got a second life when he was dropped off his own bowling by Shipley on 124. Hardik Pandya’s stay came to an end in bizarre fashion when he was adjudged bowled by the third umpire, though the replays showed bails coming off from wicketkeeper’s glove.

But Gill continued his onslaught. He lofted Bracewell for a maximum to reach 150. Despite losing wickets at the other end, Gill smacked Tickner for two sixes in the 48th over. He then struck Ferguson for three more to reach the 200-run mark in the penultimate over. He was caught at deep mid-wicket in the final over but helped India score 98 runs in the last 10.