Shubman Gill smashes Sachin Tendulkar‘s 24-year-old massive ODI record with maiden international century vs Zimbabwe With scores of 64, 43, 98*, 82*, 33 in his last five ODI innings, Shubman Gill was closing in on that elusive international hundred. He was denied by rain at Sabina Park in the third ODI against West Indies. The umpires had to end India’s innings when he was on 98 due to numerous rain interruptions. Gill was looking for a million dollars in his next assignment in the series opener against Zimbabwe in Harare, but the hosts’ total was not big enough to reach three figures.
He reached the top spot with 82 unbeaten. He was pushed back to No.3 in the second match and was out for 33 despite looking good. The third and final ODI was his last chance to potentially tell the selectors that he is a genuine option at the top of the order in limited-overs cricket. Without much pressure from the Zimbabwean bowling attack despite the early wickets of KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan, Gill was at his best.
The right-hander hit 130 off 97 balls, hitting 15 fours and a six in an innings that oozed class. Gill’s efforts also helped him enter the record books. The right-hander from Punjab scored the highest score by an Indian in an ODI in Zimbabwe. Gill broke Sachin Tendulkar’s 24-year-old record. The legendary cricketer scored an unbeaten 127 in 1998 in Bulawayo.
Gill also became the second youngest Indian to score an ODI hundred against Zimbabwe at the age of 22 years 348 days after Mohammed Kaif (21 years 287 days). Gill shared a 140-run third-wicket partnership with Kishan, who reached his half-century before being run out by Tony Munyonga. Gill was eye candy during his shift. The 22-year-old played shots all around, with his direct runs and cover runs standing out. Before reaching the milestone, he had some nervous moments in the 1990s. Evans called for a tight stretch before the call, but DRS was ruled out after UltraEdge showed the ball had touched Gill’s bat before hitting the pads.
Gill’s innings finally ended on the first ball of the final over as he looked for a boundary but he got height rather than length off a Brad Evans delivery and was caught at long-on by Innocent Kaia. But by then he ensured that India reached an impressive total of 298 for 8 batting first. In response, Sikander Raza kept Zimbabwe in the hunt with a brilliant century but could not get them over the line. India won the match by 13 runs to finish 3-0. They are a great bunch of players and I have been playing with them for a while now,” said Gill, who was adjudged player of the series for scoring 245 runs in three ODIs, after the match.
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