The first ODI of the three-match series between India and New Zealand got underway at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad on January 18, 2023. While India routed Sri Lanka 3-0 recently in ODIs, New Zealand is coming off a 2-1 ODI series win over Pakistan.
Rohit Sharma started well by winning the toss and chose to bat first. Ishan Kishan replaced KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya came in for Akshar Patel and Shardul Thakur was included as well. New Zealand made changes as well with Williamson, Southee, and Sodhi going out.
India started off well with 60 runs for the first wicket before Rohit Sharma fell for 34 runs. Then Virat Kohli (8) and Ishan Kishan (5) fell in quick succession. But Shubman Gill continued his good form, adding 65 runs with Suryakumar Yadav (31), and 74 runs with Hardik Pandya (28).
During his knock, Gill completed 1000 ODI runs in just 19 innings, becoming the joint second fastest with Imam Ul Haq and behind Fakhar Zaman who reached the milestone in 18 innings.
Gill actually continued his amazing knock and despite India struggling to find boundaries in the last few overs, the Punjab batter flicked a switch in the 48th over and slammed Tickner for 2 sixes, but in the next over, Shubman Gill hit Lockie Ferguson for three sixes in three balls to reach the amazing double century milestone, becoming the fifth Indian to reach the milestone.
He also broke Ishan Kishan’s record for being the youngest to reach the milestone at 23 years and 132 days. Kishan was 24 years old when he scored 210 against Bangladesh in December last year.
Gill’s double ton also broke the record of the highest individual score by an Indian against New Zealand, which was held by Sachin Tendulkar, who had made 186* in 1999, which also came in Hyderabad at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium.
He finally fell for 208 runs to an amazing diving catch by Glenn Phillips after hitting 9 sixes and 19 fours to his name in 149 balls.
India finished on 349/8 in 50 overs. Henry Shipley and Daryl Mitchell took two wickets.
The cricket fraternity was speechless at the beautiful mayhem caused by Shubman Gill and the carnage New Zealand bowlers faced, but managed to share their elation at Gill’s knock on social media.
Here are the tweets:
