Shubman Gill took the first ODI of the series against New Zealand by storm with his excellent double hundred. Playing at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, India decided to bat first and the decision worked out really well for them.
With a 60-run partnership, Gill and captain Rohit Sharma got India off to a flying start. However, Rohit (34 runs in 38 balls) could not hold on for longer as he was the first one to depart. The rest of the Indian batters could not do much either, but Gill looked in sublime form.
He never slowed down and never allowed the run rate to fall. Gill looked at ease throughout his special innings, aided by Suryakumar Yadav (31 runs in 26 balls) and Hardik Pandya (28 runs in 38 balls).
However, after the controversial dismissal of the all-rounder, it appeared that India might not be able to get to a big total. Pandya was ruled out by the third umpire despite the bails of the stumps falling on the ground by the wicketkeeper’s gloves. Gill, on the other hand, had other plans as he reached his maiden double hundred.
He achieved this massive feat with three consecutive sixes against Lockie Ferguson in the 49th over of the match. At the age of just 23 years, Gill became the youngest player to score a double hundred in an ODI game. He also became only the fifth Indian batter to achieve this feat.
He was finally dismissed by Henry Shipley in the final over of the innings for a team score of 345 runs. In his innings, he scored 208 runs in 149 balls, which included 19 boundaries and as many as nine sixes. The opening batter had a massive strike rate of nearly 140 in the innings. With his efforts, the team led by Rohit Sharma managed to get to a score of 349 runs and lost eight wickets in the process.
Here is how Twitter reacted to Shubman Gill’s innings
What a player Shubhman Gill Sade Punjab di shaan ab India ki Shan he. 200 in a very young age #INDvsNZ
— Ranveer Singh Rai (@IamRanveerRai) January 18, 2023
Saara Zamana, Shubhman Gill ka Deewana.#INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/LkWT44xRPO
— Himanshu Pareek (@Sports_Himanshu) January 18, 2023
The shubhman gill show. ??#shubhmangill pic.twitter.com/XcbIf4z6N6
— ????????? ???? (@9PMnoCM) January 18, 2023
Shubhman Gill scored 208 today at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad. Team total 349/8
Sachin had scored a magnificent 175 on the same ground on 5th Nov 2009. Team total 347/10 ?
This stadium turned out to be really wonderful for that one person specially ?
— Pyaar Se Mario (@SquareGas) January 18, 2023
Fire hai Apun ?? Shubhman Gill #shubhmangill #DoubleCentury #208 #ShubhamanGill pic.twitter.com/xslTWkr6Em
— Taufeeq_0s (@taufeeq_0s) January 18, 2023
??? ???? ???? ??,@ShubmanGill ??? ???? ?? ?????? ? ??? ?? ?? ??????? ????,Congratulation Shubhman Gill @BCCI @ICC pic.twitter.com/pxQAQtqBzA
— Shameem Khan (@ShameemKhan1995) January 18, 2023
Gill Strom ??
Shubhman Gill#subhmangill pic.twitter.com/RMbAiynHQE— MURALI MANOHAR (@murali_panwar) January 18, 2023
Gavaskar paved way for Sachin. Sachin did the same for Virat. Is Shubhman Gill in the same league? #IndianCricketTeam #IndiavsNewzealand #Cricket
— Sumit (@sumitsinha88) January 18, 2023
Congratulation Shubhman Gill
What a talent?#ShubmanGill #INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/5pUAQ5lFQL
— OYEPICK (Cricket Analyst) (@oyepick) January 18, 2023
First Ishan Kishan and now Shubhman Gill scores a double hundred. But we still need Rohit to open for us.
— Roopesh (@roopeshtiwari7) January 18, 2023
