‘406? Cool.’: Shubman Gill’s Two-Word Verdict After His Unbeaten 223 Against West Indies

Shubman Gill needed 133 balls to make an unbeaten 223. His verdict on chasing 406 needed just two words.

“406? Cool.”

The Indian captain posted the caption alongside photographs of his innings after India’s eight-wicket victory over West Indies in Guwahati on Wednesday. A target that demanded more than eight runs an over had been overhauled with 39 deliveries remaining. Gill’s response made it sound like a routine assignment.

India finished on 408 for two in 43.3 overs, completing their highest successful ODI chase and securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

A Big Target, a Bigger Answer

Gill struck 26 fours and eight sixes, finishing with a strike rate above 167. His second successive century of the series became a double, and he stayed until the chase was complete.

Rohit Sharma provided the opening acceleration, scoring 101 off 75 balls and crossing 12,000 ODI runs along the way. Together, they added 255 for the first wicket, turning West Indies’ imposing total into a chase India increasingly controlled.

After Rohit’s dismissal, Virat Kohli contributed 29 off 19 deliveries. Ruturaj Gaikwad then made an unbeaten 31 from 37 as Gill took India home.

The captain’s social media post captured the confidence of that finish. He had answered 405 for seven with an innings that accounted for more than half of India’s total.

Beyond Maxwell, Past Sehwag

Gill’s unbeaten 223 surpassed Glenn Maxwell’s 201 not out against Afghanistan in the 2023 World Cup to become the highest individual score in a men’s ODI chase.

It also took him beyond Virender Sehwag’s 219 against West Indies in 2011 for the highest ODI score by an Indian captain.

His hundred arrived in 62 balls, one delivery quicker than Rohit’s century against Afghanistan at the 2023 World Cup, setting a new mark for the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian skipper.

Gill then reached 150 in 89 balls before completing his second ODI double-century.

The milestones accumulated, but the defining feature of the innings was its finish: India’s captain remained unbeaten when the record chase was done.

Three Centuries Were Not Enough

West Indies had built their highest ODI total around three hundreds.

John Campbell struck 101 off 68 balls, Shai Hope made 104 from 94 and Amir Jangoo powered his way to 114 off 77. Their combined assault carried the visitors to 405 for seven.

India’s bowlers endured a punishing afternoon. Gurnoor Brar conceded 96 runs for two wickets, Ravindra Jadeja returned two for 75 and Kuldeep Yadav took two for 65. Debutant Auqib Nabi went wicketless.

Then Gill and Rohit made the same conditions work for India. While Gill’s post celebrated the chase, head coach Gautam Gambhir questioned the balance of a match in which both teams passed 400. “This is not cricket, this is only batting,” he told Star Sports afterwards.

With inputs from ANI