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 off just 133 deliveries, guiding the side 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 successful run‑chase. It was his eleventh century in the 50‑over format, one of five hundreds compiled on the day, as India piled up 406 for 2 in 43.3 overs, securing a 2‑0 lead in the three‑match contest.
Opening partner Rohit Sharma contributed a solid 101, and the pair forged a 255‑run partnership off 158 balls – the second‑largest opening stand for India in ODI history. Their collaboration laid the foundation for what became only the second successful chase of a target exceeding 400 runs, the first being South Africa’s record 438‑9 against Australia in 2006.
The West Indies, before being bowled out, produced a historic batting display of their own. Three of their players reached the three‑figure mark in the same innings – a first for the Caribbean side.
Amir Jangoo led the way with 114, captain Shai Hope added 104, and opening batsman John Campbell set the tempo with a blistering 101 off just 68 balls. Their combined effort propelled the visitors to 405 for 7, marking the inaugural occasion a West Indian team crossed the 400‑run threshold in an ODI.
Despite the massive total, India wrapped up the chase with 6.3 overs to spare, achieving their highest ever successful pursuit. The previous Indian record stood at 362‑1 against Australia in Jaipur in 2013. Gill’s second fifty came off an astonishing 24 balls, and he reached his century in 62 deliveries, underlining the ferocity of his on‑slaught.
Sharma, meanwhile, recorded his 35th ODI century, reaching 101 off 72 balls before falling lbw to Jayden Seales in the 27th over. Their opening partnership now ranks second only to the 258‑run stand between Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly against Kenya in Paarl in 2001. After Sharma’s dismissal, Gill continued his rampage, becoming the first player to score a double hundred in an ODI chase in just 117 balls. This innings is the fastest double century ever recorded in the format and eclipses Glenn Maxwell’s 201 against Afghanistan in Mumbai in 2023 to become the highest individual score in a chase.
It also sits as 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 Campbell unleashing five sixes and nine fours, establishing a rapid start despite the absence of the injured Justin Greaves.
Campbell’s second ODI hundred came off just 65 balls, helping the visitors reach 96‑1 in the powerplay. He then combined with Hope for a 110‑run partnership off 79 balls, while Hope capitalised on the batting conditions to notch his 20th ODI century. Jangoo, building on a half‑century from the first match, struck his own hundred off 70 balls, hitting three sixes and 13 fours as the West Indies amassed 76 runs in the final ten overs. The match featured an unprecedented five centuries in a single ODI, the first such occurrence.
Overall, it marked the 11th time a team recorded three individual centuries in an ODI, but it was the first instance where that feat ended in defeat. Looking ahead, Chandigarh is set to host the series‑deciding third ODI on Saturday. India had already secured the opening win by seven wickets in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
In other news, Australia avoided a 3‑0 whitewash by South Africa after clinching a rain‑affected third ODI by 45 runs using the DLS method on Wednesday. South Africa, having already sealed the series with victories in Durban and Johannesburg, were 145‑4 after 28 overs when rain interrupted play at 8.30 pm local time.
The match was called off at 9.30 pm as the DLS target became unattainable. Earlier in that game, Australia posted 322‑9, propelled by captain Mitchell Marsh’s third consecutive fifty and Alex Carey’s 74 off 88 balls. Fast bowler Xavier Bartlett shone with the new ball, while leg‑spinner Adam Zampa bowled tight lines, each claiming two wickets.
South Africa’s Corbin Bosch made a late‑innings impact, taking the wickets of Carey and Cameron Green, but it was insufficient. All‑rounder Zampa finished with figures of 4‑60, while Gerald Coetzee and Lizaad Williams each added two wickets to the tally. Overall, the day highlighted the evolving nature of limited‑overs cricket, where massive totals are no longer insurmountable and individual brilliance can rewrite record books. Gill’s monumental unbeaten double century will be remembered as a defining moment in ODI history, illustrating how a combination of skill, temperament, and aggressive intent can turn a daunting chase into a celebrated triumph.