Wednesday’s first one-day international in Hyderabad saw India beat New Zealand by 12 runs thanks to a magnificent 208 from Shubman Gill.
As of Wednesday, ODI batsman Shubman Gill joined a select group of players who have scored 200 and 200 in the same game. On Wednesday in Hyderabad, despite a scorching century from Michael Bracewell, India overcame New Zealand by 12 runs thanks to a superb 208 from Gill. After starter Gill struck just the 10th double hundred in ODI history, India appeared to be cruising to victory with New Zealand in grave trouble at 131-6 while chasing 350.
“Gill’s batting is amazing to watch since he never hits a ball in the air. India’s skipper, Rohit Sharma, praised his teammate’s “free-flowing batting.”
The Indian squad had a special celebration for Gill after the victory.
In response, Bracewell scored 140 runs off 78 balls before being trapped leg-before wicket by Shardul Thakur in the final over of the game.
It was always going to be tough, with the way Bracewell was batting,” Rohit said.
India’s fast bowlers, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj stifled New Zealand early on, but Bracewell’s late fireworks gave them hope of a sensational triumph. Bracewell’s innings were spectacular. Tom Latham, New Zealand’s captain, remarked on how impressive it was that his team had been able to “play innings like that” in light of the game’s circumstances. Failing to finish first is a major letdown.
Despite New Zealand’s best batsman Finn Allen’s effortless 40, the team was doomed to a crushing defeat after Siraj took the sixth wicket when Latham fell.
Once Mitchell Santner, a left-arm spinner, joined Bracewell, the two of them put on an outstanding 162 runs before Santner was dismissed by Siraj. After hitting 12 fours and 10 sixes, Bracewell’s team lost because Siraj took four wickets for forty-six runs as the best Indian bowler.
Earlier, in an inning that lasted 149 balls and featured 19 fours and nine sixes, 23-year-old Gill helped India record a threatening score of 349-8. Both Rohit (34) and Virat Kohli (8) were dismissed by Santner’s bowling.
Despite Lockie Ferguson’s cheap dismissal of Ishan Kishan (210 runs) last month against Bangladesh, Suryakumar Yadav (31) and Hardik Pandya (29 not out) provided timely support to Gill (28). During the penultimate over, he reached his double century with three consecutive sixes against Ferguson before holing out to deep mid-wicket.
When I hit those sixes in the 49th over, I wasn’t trying to get 200. “That’s when I realized I had a chance at a double,” Gill explained.
I wouldn’t say it’s a “wow” moment, but it’s amazing when the ball comes flying off the bat exactly the way you planned. There is undoubtedly a sense of fulfillment. The realization had set in very well: “This is one of those things, like what dreams are made of.”
