Ind vs WI: Gill’s 223 powers India to chase 406

Shubman Gill's unbeaten 223 off 133 balls propelled India to their highest successful ODI chase in history, as they defeated the West Indies by eight wickets in the second ODI at the ACA Stadium on Wednesday. This victory secured a commanding 2-0 lead in the three-match series for India. The West Indies posted 405 earlier in the innings, setting an extremely challenging target of 406 runs for India.

However, Gill and his team showed remarkable composure and controlled the chase with ease. Gill's innings was characterized by aggressive strokeplay combined with impeccable control throughout the chase. He completed the feat at a strike rate of nearly 168, hitting 26 fours and eight sixes. With this performance, Gill became only the second batter to score an ODI double hundred while chasing behind, following Australia's Glenn Maxwell in an ODI against Afghanistan.

The only other successful chase of a 400-plus target in ODI cricket took place in the iconic 2006 encounter between South Africa and Australia, when South Africa chased down 435 in Johannesburg. This win surpassed India's previous highest successful ODI chase, highlighting the scale of their batting performance in Guwahati. Rohit Sharma also contributed to the team's success by becoming only the seventh batter and the third Indian to reach the 12,000-run milestone in ODI cricket.

In his 291st ODI, Rohit scored his 35th century off just 72 balls, featuring 10 fours and six sixes. This marked his second century in three matches at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. Rohit, known for his consistency, now has an impressive tally of 62 half-centuries in ODIs and an average of nearly 50. He joins cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli as the only other Indians to cross the 12,000-run mark in ODI cricket.