NEW DELHI: In-form Shubman Gill etched his name into the record books with a composed, unbeaten 101 as India began their ICC Champions Trophy campaign with a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh on Thursday. Gill’s knock anchored India’s chase of a tricky 229-run target on a challenging surface, with the team reaching the finish line with 21 balls to spare.
The 25-year-old vice-captain continued his sublime form, securing his eighth ODI hundred in just 51 innings — making him the fastest Indian to reach the milestone. He surpassed the previous record held by Shikhar Dhawan, who took 57 innings, while Virat Kohli (68 innings), Gautam Gambhir (98 innings), and Sachin Tendulkar (111 innings) followed in the list.
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"Definitely one of my most satisfying innings that I have played and my first century in ICC events," Gill said after receiving the Man of the Match award. "Very happy with the way I performed."
India's captain Rohit Sharma lauded Gill's efforts, emphasising the young opener's consistency and class. "Gill, we know the class that he has, shouldn't surprise anyone. It was good to see him bat till the end," Rohit remarked.
Fewest innings to eight ODI hundreds for India
51 - Shubman Gill57 - Shikhar Dhawan68 - Virat Kohli98 - Gautam Gambhir111 - Sachin Tendulkar
Gill's remarkable ODI career has continued to flourish since his debut in 2019. In 51 matches, he has amassed 2,688 runs at an astounding average of 62.51, striking at 100.78. Alongside his eight centuries, he has registered 15 half-centuries, further cementing his reputation as one of India's most promising batters.
Interestingly, Gill's century against Bangladesh was his slowest in ODIs, taking 125 balls to reach the three-figure mark. However, his measured innings proved vital in navigating India to victory on a testing pitch.
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Having recently won the Player of the Series award in India's 3-0 sweep against England, where he scored 259 runs, Gill's red-hot form bodes well for India as they continue their pursuit of Champions Trophy glory.
