A packed stadium bore witness to a cascade of batting milestones on Wednesday, with Shubman Gill anchoring India’s chase with an unbeaten 223 off just 133 deliveries, guiding the team to an eight‑wicket victory over the West Indies in the second One‑Day International of the series. Gill’s innings not only marked his personal best in ODIs but also set a new benchmark for the highest individual score ever recorded in a run‑chase.
It was his eleventh century in the format, and one of five hundreds compiled on the day, as India posted a formidable 406 for 2 in 43.3 overs, securing a 2‑0 lead in the three‑match series. Opening partner Rohit Sharma contributed 101, and together the pair forged a 255‑run partnership off 158 balls – the second‑largest opening stand for India in ODI history. Their collaboration eclipsed many great partnerships, coming only behind the 258‑run opening partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly against Kenya in 2001. India’s total represented only the second successful chase of 400 or more runs in ODI cricket, following South Africa’s record 438‑9 chase of Australia in 2006.
The West Indies, however, made history of their own by becoming the first side to register three centuries in a single ODI 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 68 balls. The Caribbean team posted 405 for 7, crossing the 400‑run threshold for the first time in ODI history. Yet Gill’s masterclass ensured India surpassed the target with 6.3 overs to spare, delivering the highest successful chase for India – their previous best being 362‑1 against Australia in Jaipur in 2013.
Gill’s road to the double hundred was blisteringly quick. After reaching his second fifty in just 24 balls, he arrived at his century in 62 deliveries.
He continued his onslaught after Sharma’s dismissal, reaching the 200‑run landmark in 117 balls, making it the fastest double century ever recorded in ODIs. This innings also eclipsed Glenn Maxwell’s 201‑run chase against Afghanistan in Mumbai in 2023, establishing Gill’s 223 as the highest score in a successful chase and the third‑highest individual ODI score of all time. Reflecting on his performance, 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’ innings began with a fireworks display as Campbell hammered five sixes and nine fours, propelling the visitors to 96‑1 in the powerplay.
He went on to score his second ODI century, reaching 101 off just 65 balls. His partnership with Hope yielded 110 runs off 79 balls, and Hope, exploiting the batting conditions, notched his twentieth ODI hundred. Jangoo, building on a half‑century from the first match, compiled a second hundred off 70 balls, striking three sixes and 13 fours, and helped West Indies add 76 runs in the final ten overs.
The occurrence of five centuries in a single ODI was unprecedented, marking the eleventh time a side has produced three centuries in an innings, but the first such instance to end 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 a separate series, Australia avoided a 3‑0 whitewash by South Africa, clinching a rain‑affected third and final ODI by 45 runs via the DLS method.
South Africa, having already secured the series with wins in Durban and Johannesburg, were 145‑4 after 28 overs when rain halted play at 9:30 pm local time. Earlier in that match, Australia posted 322‑9, bolstered by captain Mitchell Marsh’s third consecutive half‑century and Alex Carey’s 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 his efforts fell short as all‑rounder Mitchell Marsh finished with figures of 4‑60, and fellow bowlers Gerald Coetzee and Lizaad Williams each claimed two wickets.
Overall, the day was a celebration of batting fireworks, record‑breaking chases, and historic milestones that will be remembered in ODI annals for years to come.