A packed stadium bore witness to a cascade of batting milestones on Wednesday, with Shubman Gill stealing the spotlight by compiling an unbeaten 223 off just 133 deliveries, guiding India 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 achieved in a successful run‑chase.
It was his eleventh century in the 50‑over format and one of five centuries struck in the match, as India posted a formidable 406 for 2 in 43.3 overs, securing a 2‑0 lead in the three‑match contest. Opening partner Rohit Sharma contributed a brisk 101, and the pair forged a 255‑run partnership off 158 balls – the second‑largest opening stand ever recorded by India in ODIs.
Their collaboration came close to the record 258‑run opening partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly against Kenya in 2001. The chase was only the second instance in ODI history where a side successfully pursued a target exceeding 400 runs, following South Africa’s monumental 438‑9 against Australia in 2006. India’s pursuit of 406 eclipsed its previous highest chase of 362‑1 set against Australia in Jaipur in 2013.
West Indies, however, had their own reasons to celebrate. Three of their batsmen reached the three‑figure mark in the same innings – a first‑time occurrence for the Caribbean side.
Amir Jangoo led the way with 114, captain Shai Hope added 104, and opener John Campbell blazed a rapid 101 off just 68 balls. Their collective effort propelled the visitors to 405 for 7, marking the West Indies’ inaugural 400‑plus total in an ODI. Gill’s innings continued to accelerate after Sharma’s dismissal. He reached his second fifty in a lightning‑quick 24 balls and completed his century in 62 deliveries.
By the time he was done, he had amassed 223 runs off 117 balls, making it the fastest double‑century ever recorded in the one‑day format. This feat also eclipsed Glenn Maxwell’s 201 against Afghanistan in 2023, establishing Gill’s score as the highest ever in a successful chase and the third‑highest individual total in ODI history. Reflecting on the day’s conditions, 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.” The West Indian innings began with Campbell’s explosive start – five sixes and nine fours helped the team race to 96 for 1 in the powerplay. Campbell’s second ODI ton came off just 65 balls, and he later combined with Hope for a 110‑run stand off 79 balls, allowing Hope to notch his twentieth ODI century.
Jangoo, building on a half‑century from the first match, produced a swift hundred off 70 balls, striking three sixes and 13 fours, while the West Indies ripped off 76 runs in the final ten overs. The match thus became the first ODI to feature five centuries in a single game. Although three centuries from one side have occurred eleven times before, this was the inaugural occasion where the team with three centuries still suffered defeat.
India will travel to Chandigarh for the series‑deciding third ODI on Saturday. They had already secured a convincing win in the opening match, beating the West Indies by seven wickets in Thiruvananthapuram. In other news, Australia avoided a clean‑sweep 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 after 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 fifty‑plus score 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 Carey and Cameron Green, but the effort fell short as all‑rounder Zampa claimed 4 for 60, and teammates Gerald Coetzee and Lizaad Williams added two wickets apiece. The day’s cricketing drama underscored the evolving nature of limited‑overs batting, where scores once thought unattainable are now within reach, and individual brilliance can rewrite record books in a single session.