Sachin Tendulkar's enormous 24-year-old ODI record is broken by Shubman Gill with his first-ever international century against Zimbabwe.

  • Aug. 23, 2022, 1:37 p.m.

Shubman Gill was nudging closer to that elusive international hundred with scores of 64, 43, 98*, 82*, and 33 in his last five ODI innings. He was denied by the rain in Sabina Park in the third ODI against the West Indies. The umpires had to end India's innings when he was on 98 because of multiple rain interruptions. Gill was looking for a million dollars in his next assignment in the series opener against Zimbabwe in Harare, but the hosts' total wasn't big enough for him to get to three figures. He top-scored with an unbeaten 82. He was pushed back to No.3 for the second match and was out for 33 despite looking good. The third and final ODI was his last opportunity to potentially tell the selectors that he is a genuine option at the top of the order in limited-overs cricket. With not a lot of pressure coming from the Zimbabwe bowling attack, despite the early wickets of KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan, Gill produced his best.

The right-hander smacked 130 off 97 balls, hitting 15 fours and a six in an innings that oozed class. Gill's efforts also helped him enter the record books. The right-hander from Punjab registered the highest score by an Indian in an ODI in Zimbabwe. Gill broke Sachin Tendulkar's 24-year-old record. The legendary cricketer had scored an unbeaten 127 in Bulawayo way back in 1998.

Shubman Gill's big record

Shubman Gill's big record

Gill was a treat to the eye during his innings. The 22-year-old played shots all around, with his straight drives and cover drives standing out. He had a few nervous moments in the 90s before he reached the milestone.

Evans appealed for a close leg before the call but the DRS was turned down after UltraEdge showed that the ball touched Gill's bat before thudding into the pads.

Gill's innings finally came to an end in the first ball of the final over when he sought a boundary, but he achieved height rather than length off a Brad Evans delivery and was caught at long-off by Innocent Kaia. But by then, he had ensured that India reached a formidable total of 298 for 8 by batting first.

In reply, Sikander Raza kept Zimbabwe in the hunt with a brilliant century but couldn't manage to get them over the line. India won the match by 13 runs to complete a 3-0 sweep.

"It's a great bunch of players and I have been playing with them for some time now," Gill, who was adjudged Player of the Series for scoring 245 runs in three ODIs, said after the match.

Author : Rajdhani Delhi Representative

Rajdhani delhi representative

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