A packed stadium bore witness to a cascade of batting milestones on Wednesday, with Shubman Gill anchoring India’s chase by remaining unbeaten on 223 runs from just 133 deliveries, leading his side to an eight-wicket triumph over the West Indies in the second ODI of the series. Gill’s innings not only marked his personal best in the one‑day format but also set a new benchmark for the highest individual score ever recorded in a successful run‑chase. It was his eleventh century in ODIs, one of five centuries compiled on the day, as India compiled a formidable total of 406 for 2 in just 43.3 overs, securing a 2‑0 lead in the three‑match contest.
Opening partner Rohit Sharma contributed a swift 101, and together the pair forged a 255‑run opening partnership in 158 balls – the second‑largest opening stand ever recorded by India in ODIs, trailing only the 258‑run partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly against Kenya in 2001. Their aggressive start laid the foundation for what would become only the second successful chase of a 400‑plus target in ODI history, following South Africa’s record 438‑9 chase of Australia in 2006. The West Indies, however, had already etched their own place in the record books before India’s reply.
Three Caribbean batsmen each reached triple figures, a first‑time occurrence for the team in a single innings. Amir Jangoo led the way with 114, captain Shai Hope added 104, and opener John Campbell set the tempo with a rapid 101 off just 68 balls, blasting five sixes and nine fours in the powerplay. West Indies posted 405 for 7, crossing the 400‑run threshold for the first time in ODI history.
India’s chase began with confidence, and Gill’s second half‑century arrived in a blistering 24 balls, propelling him to his century in just 62 deliveries. Sharma, meanwhile, recorded his 35th ODI hundred, reaching 101 off 72 balls before falling lbw to Jayden Seales in the 27th over. After Sharma’s dismissal, Gill continued his onslaught, reaching a second double‑hundred in ODIs off 117 balls – the fastest double century ever recorded in the format.
This innings also eclipsed Glenn Maxwell’s previous record of 201 runs in a chase against Afghanistan in 2023, establishing Gill’s 223 as the highest score ever chased successfully. It ranks as the third‑highest individual score in any ODI innings.
Reflecting on his marathon knock, Gill described the conditions: "It was a hot and humid day. With 400 on the board, there was pressure at the start and then at the halfway mark. I am very pleased I could stay till the end and finish this innings. I try to break my innings into smaller parts.
Once we scored 200‑odd before 25 overs, the pressure was on them." His measured approach, breaking the innings into manageable phases, allowed him to maintain composure despite the monumental target. West Indies’ early fireworks continued as Campbell’s aggressive start saw him launch five sixes and nine fours, propelling the visitors to 96 for 1 in the powerplay. He later reached his second ODI hundred in just 65 balls, partnering with Hope for a 110‑run stand off 79 balls. Hope, capitalising on the batting‑friendly conditions, notched his 20th ODI century.
Jangoo, building on a half‑century from the first match, produced a 70‑ball hundred of his own, striking three sixes and 13 fours, and helped West Indies add 76 runs in the final ten overs. The day’s five centuries marked the first time that many individual hundreds have been recorded in a single ODI, and it was the 11th occasion a side has produced three centuries in an innings – the first such instance that still ended in defeat. Looking ahead, Chandigarh is set to host the series‑deciding third ODI on Saturday.
India had already secured the opening match, winning by seven wickets in Thiruvananthapuram. In other news, Australia avoided a 3‑0 whitewash by South Africa after clinching a rain‑affected third ODI via the DLS method, winning by 45 runs. South Africa, having already sealed the series with victories in Durban and Johannesburg, were 145 for 4 in 28 overs when rain halted play at 9:30 pm local time. Earlier in that match, Australia posted 322 for 9, bolstered by captain Mitchell Marsh’s third consecutive half‑century and Alex Carey’s brisk 74 off 88 balls.
Fast bowler Xavier Bartlett shone with the new ball, while leg‑spinner Adam Zampa kept a tight line, each taking two wickets. South Africa’s Corbin Bosch made a late‑innings impact, dismissing both Carey and Cameron Green, but it was insufficient; all‑rounder Carey finished with figures of 4 for 60, and fellow bowlers Gerald Coetzee and Lizaad Williams each claimed two wickets. Overall, the second ODI between India and West Indies will be remembered as a landmark day for batting excellence, featuring record‑breaking individual scores, historic chase achievements, and a thrilling display of power hitting that pushed the boundaries of modern one‑day cricket.