Shubman Gill stars in India's historic run-chase with record-shattering double century

India pulled off what seemed an impossible task in Guwahati on Wednesday, chasing down their highest-ever target in ODIs (406) with more than six overs to spare. Guwahati witnessed a runfest that rewrote the contours of top-quality batting from both the sides while rekindling memories from Johannesburg’s record chase in 2006.

Winning the toss, India opted to field first in Guwahati. Auqib Nabi was handed his debut for this crucial clash. Much to India’s woes, the Islanders came out blasting on all cylinders despite the absence of Justin Greaves, who smashed a century in the previous game.

John Campbell got off to a rollicking start and did the majority of the heavy-lifting in the opening stand alongside Keacy Carty (9). Prasidh Krishna did get the better of Carty early but India’s joys were shortlived as Shai Hope took over the mantle. Hope and Campbell looked in complete control as the Indian bowlers were being muscled around.

The two added 111 runs for the second wicket before Gurnoor Brar broke the partnership, claiming the crucial scalp of Campbell, who smashed 101 off just 68 balls, clobbering nine fours and five sixes. Despite the fall of Campbell, West Indies simply kept on coming. An incoming Amir Jangoo, though, started with the same form Campbell left off with.

Jangoo and Hope added 182 runs for the third wicket, leaving the Indian bowlers absolutely frazzled. Hope hammered 104 while Jangoo racked up 114 from the 77 balls that he faced. After much woe, Kuldeep Yadav finally broke the partnership, and Gurnoor struck in quick succession to send Sherfane Rutherford back to the pavilion for a golden duck.

Ravindra Jadeja got hold of Jangoo next which allowed India to slow things down slightly, at least in terms of the scoring rate which threatened to take the tally well close to 450. Roston Chase stayed unbeaten for 29 off just 25 balls while Shamar Joseph’s late charge of 14 from just eight balls saw West Indies posting 405/7 at the end of their 50 overs. Kuldeep Yadav was the pick of the lot for Indian bowling with figures of 2/65.

India needed to carve history if they were to pocket the game and the series as well. Well, the Men in Blue decided that they were going to flip the killswitch, no matter how risky it was. Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill arrived in their most intimidating incarnations and India flew off the blocks.

West Indies added two new reinforcements to their playing XI with the inclusion of speedster, Shamarh Joseph and left-arm spinner, Vitel Lawes. However, those additions couldn’t even scratch the surface against a superlative batting performance carved by the two Indian openers who took apart the Windies bowling attack piece by piece.

Rohit and Gill matched each other shot by shot, cooking up a race in the wee hours of the chase of who could surpass the other. Rohit brought up his 62nd half-century in style, smashing Keemo Paul’s free-hit to the fence while Shubman Gill reached his fifty off the same bowler. He launched Paul's delivery into the second tier to bring up his 20th half-century in just 39 balls.

Gill unlocked his rampage mode, going even harder at the bowlers ever since he crossed the fifty-run mark. The Indian captain brought up his century in just 62 balls which also turned out to be his quickest ton, by clipping Alzarri Joseph onto the leg side for a four. Rohit brought up his 35th ODI century from just 72 balls as the two openers went on to add 255 runs from just 158 balls, nipping the game in the bud.

Jayden Seales drew first blood for West Indies but that did very little to deter India off their rampant trajectory. The incoming Virat Kohli had no intention of anchoring the innings. He smashed an entertaining 29 off 19 balls before falling to Joseph as Rutherford took an absolute blinder on the fence.

However, India never looked fazed despite losing Rohit and Virat in the center and the prime reason for this was Shubman Gill. The Indian skipper simply kept on hacking away at the bowlers, racking up runs faster at breakneck pace. He brought up his second double century in ODIs with a single against Vitel Lawes, making it the quickest ODI double-century as it came in just 117 balls.

Gill stayed unbeaten till the end, while Ruturaj Gaikwad played a composed knock of 31* to usher India across the finish line with 39 balls to spare. Gill’s tally read a magnificent 223 from just 133 balls as he hammered 26 fours and eight sixes.

India won the game by eight wickets and with 39 balls to spare while also pocketing the series with the last game still to be played. Gill bagged the Player of the Match award for his match-winning double-century.