A packed stadium bore witness to an extraordinary display of batting on Wednesday, with Shubman Gill anchoring India’s chase by scoring an unbeaten 223 off just 133 deliveries, propelling his side to an eight‑wicket victory over the West Indies in the second one‑day international of the series. Gill’s innings was not only his personal best in ODIs but also set a new benchmark for the highest individual score ever recorded in a successful run‑chase. It marked his eleventh century in the format, one of five hundreds compiled on the day, as India posted a formidable 406 for 2 in just 43.3 overs, clinching a 2‑0 lead in the three‑match contest.
Opening partner Rohit Sharma contributed a crisp 101, and together the pair forged a 255‑run partnership off 158 balls – the second‑largest opening stand ever for India in ODIs, trailing only the 258‑run partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly against Kenya in 2001. India’s chase was the second successful pursuit of a target exceeding 400 runs in ODI history, the first being South Africa’s record 438‑9 against Australia in 2006. The West Indies, however, had already set a historic tone by becoming the first side to record three centuries in a single ODI innings.
Amir Jangoo led the way with 114, captain Shai Hope added 104, and opener John Campbell smashed 101 off just 68 balls, giving the visitors a solid platform. Their total of 405‑7 marked the West Indies’ inaugural 400‑plus score in the one‑day format.
Despite the massive target, Gill and Sharma gave India a comfortable margin, finishing the chase with 6.3 overs to spare. This effort established India’s highest successful chase in ODIs, surpassing the previous record of 362‑1 set against Australia in Jaipur in 2013. Gill’s second fifty came in a blistering 24 balls, and he reached his century in just 62 deliveries, underscoring his aggressive intent.
Sharma, on his part, notched his 35th ODI hundred off 72 balls before falling lbw to Jayden Seales in the 27th over. After Sharma’s dismissal, Gill continued his onslaught, becoming the first batsman to register a double hundred in an ODI chase at a strike rate that eclipsed all previous records. His 223 off 133 balls is the fastest double century ever recorded in ODIs and also eclipses Glenn Maxwell’s 201 against Afghanistan in 2023 to become the highest individual score in a run‑chase. In the broader context of ODI history, Gill’s innings ranks as the third‑highest individual score of all time.
Reflecting on the innings, Gill said, "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." West Indies’ start was equally explosive. Campbell launched the innings with five sixes and nine fours, taking the visitors to 96‑1 in the powerplay. He later reached his second ODI hundred in just 65 balls, while his partnership with Hope added 110 runs off 79 balls, allowing Hope to claim his 20th ODI century.
Jangoo, building on his half‑century from the first match, produced a rapid hundred off 70 balls, striking three sixes and 13 fours, and the West Indies piled on 76 runs in the final ten overs. The five‑century feat was a first in a single ODI, and although three centuries in an innings have occurred before, this was the inaugural occasion where a side with three hundreds still ended up on the losing side. The series now shifts to Chandigarh for the final ODI on Saturday.
India had already secured a comfortable win in the opening match, defeating the West Indies by seven wickets in Thiruvananthapuram. In other news, Australia avoided a clean 3‑0 sweep by South Africa after clinching a rain‑affected third ODI by 45 runs via the DLS method.
South Africa, having already sealed the series with wins in Durban and Johannesburg, were 145‑4 after 28 overs when rain interrupted play at 8:30 pm local time. The match was abandoned an hour later.
Australia’s innings had been anchored by captain Mitchell Marsh, who posted his third consecutive half‑century, and Alex Carey’s 74 off 88 balls, taking the total to 322‑9. Fast bowler Xavier Bartlett made early inroads with the new ball, while leg‑spinner Adam Zampa kept a tight line, each claiming two wickets. In the death overs, Corbin Bosch sparked a brief resurgence for South Africa, dismissing both Carey and Cameron Green, but the effort fell short. All‑rounder Bosch finished with figures of 4‑60, and fellow bowlers Gerald Coetzee and Lizaad Williams each added two wickets to the tally.