Shubman Gill created history on Wednesday (January 18) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Gill thrashed the Kiwi bowlers fiercely and scored 208 runs. The Indian batsman scored his maiden double century and became the youngest player to reach the landmark against New Zealand.
Gill started the day cautiously and shared a 60-run partnership with Rohit Sharma for the first wicket, in which the Indian captain contributed 34 runs. After this, India had also lost the wickets of Virat Kohli and Ishaan Kishan, but Gill was determined to do something. Gill completed his half-century in the first 52 balls and then accelerated the pace of his batting.
It took 35 balls for Gill to reach 50 to 100 runs. In reaching the same hundred to 150 runs, he took the same number of balls. Then he scored two hundred runs from 151 in just 23 balls. Gill scored his first double century in the 49th over of the innings with a hat-trick six off the first three balls of Lockie Ferguson. After Gill’s double century, there are fierce reactions on social media.
A SIX to bring up his Double Hundred 🫡🫡
Watch that moment here, ICYMI 👇👇#INDvNZ #TeamIndia @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/8qCReIQ3lc
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 18, 2023
Indian players like Yuvraj Singh, R Ashwin and Virender Sehwag have praised this young batsman. Yuvraj Singh tweeted, 200 in a one day game. At such a young age, unbelievable. It is a very proud day for me and Shubman’s father. Congratulations Shubman, the whole country is proud of you.
200 in a day game!! At such a young age incredible ✊✊✊ unbelievable!! A very proud day for me and Shubman’s dad!!! @ShubmanGill the whole country is proud of you 👏 🇮🇳 #NZvsIND
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) January 18, 2023
Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin tweeted, ‘Unprecedented, he may fail a few innings later. Let us not let our short term memory dominate our mind.
Phenomenal 👏👏. He may fail in a couple of innings sometime later and let’s not allow our temporary memory to cloud our minds then.#IndvsNz
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) January 18, 2023
Former opener Virender Sehwag tweeted, ‘Wow Shubman. double century magnificent.’
Wow Shubman. Double hundred. Brilliant
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) January 18, 2023
Wasim Jaffer wrote, ‘Dil Dil Shubman Gill.’
DIL DIL SHUBMAN GILL! #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/mynjenlarW
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) January 18, 2023
Shubman Gill increased his innings like this:
0 to 50 runs – 52 balls
51 to 100 runs – 35 balls
101 runs 150- 35 balls
151 to 200 runs – 23 balls