![Shubman Gill's 208 vs New Zealand [Source: @Nitika3012/x.com]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1768721985965_ShubmanGill's208vsNewZealand.jpg?type=hq)
Shubman Gill's 208 vs New Zealand [Source: @Nitika3012/x.com]
Shubman Gill has quickly become one of India’s most reliable batters. From being one of the most dependable batters in Tests to being a run machine in ODIs, he has established himself as a deserving player in the team. Now, rolling back the clock, let’s have a look at one of his best performances in ODI cricket.
The current Indian Test and ODI captain’s 208 vs New Zealand back in 2023 made him the fifth Indian to reach the 200-run mark in ODIs. Aged 23 years and 132 days, he also became the youngest player to reach this milestone. This innings was very important for the emerging star, as India were gearing up for the World Cup at home in a few months.
India had gotten off to a decent start in the first innings at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill putting on a 60-run partnership. The home side then lost a few wickets in succession, and they desperately needed someone to step up.
Shubman Gill was the lone warrior for India
Gill helped India to a massive total of 349 runs on a track that had bounce and turn, and more importantly, when the top order had failed to fire. He took it upon himself to take the team to a defendable total when the middle order could not make much of an impact as well.
He paced the innings brilliantly with important partnerships with Suryakumar Yadav (65-run partnership) and Hardik Pandya (74-run partnership). At the back end of the innings, he set the stage on fire with his six-hitting spree and reached the 200-run mark with a maximum in the 49th over.
He scored 208 runs in 149 balls, including 19 fours and 9 sixes, before being undone by Henry Shipley in the final over of the innings. Gill did not time his pull shot well, and Glenn Phillips completed an exceptional blinder, running forward to send him back.
New Zealand almost took away the game
While the target looked massive, New Zealand almost chased it down, thanks to Michael Bracewell’s 140-run knock. Except for Mohammed Siraj, who took four wickets in the innings, all of the Indian bowlers were taken for cleaners. Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and Shardul Thakur were all taken for cleaners.
Siraj put in a great effort to restrict the Kiwis early on in the innings, but Bracewell’s 78-ball 140 almost took away the game from India. The game came down to the wire, with the Black Caps needing 20 runs in the last over.
Shardul Thakur was handed the ball for the final over and was hit for a six by Bracewell straightaway. He then bowled a wide, but bounced back brilliantly. He dismissed the Kiwi centurion with a brilliant yorker to trap him plumb in front of the stumps.
Despite Shubman Gill’s masterclass in Hyderabad, the game came very close. But, in the end, it made for a thrilling contest, which India won by a narrow margin of 12 runs.
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