Shubhman Gill smashes century, became fastest batter in ODI history to reach 2500 runs

Shubman Gill once again proved his dominance in Ahmedabad as he smashed a stunning hundred against England in the 3rd ODI on Wednesday, February 12. The young Indian opener reached his century in just 95 balls, treating the packed crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium to a masterclass in stroke play. This was Gill’s seventh hundred in ODIs and his first in the 50-over format at this venue.

India had an early setback when captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed cheaply for just one run. However, Gill, alongside Virat Kohli, steadied the innings. The 25-year-old took charge, playing aggressive shots from the start. He hit Gus Atkinson for two glorious boundaries in the 10th over, making his intent clear. Kohli and Gill then targeted Joe Root and Atkinson, ensuring that the scoreboard kept ticking rapidly.

Gill reached his half-century with a stylish boundary off Adil Rashid, bringing up the milestone in just 51 balls. This made him the seventh Indian batter to score 50+ runs in all three matches of a bilateral ODI series, joining legends like Kris Srikkanth, MS Dhoni, and Mohammed Azharuddin. Kohli fell after a well-made contribution, but Gill continued to accelerate, finding boundaries at will.

The young batter also created history by becoming the fastest to 2500 ODI runs, adding yet another record to his growing list of achievements. He entered the 90s with a crisp boundary off Liam Livingstone in the 27th over and smartly rotated the strike to inch closer to his hundred. The big moment arrived in the 32nd over when Gill smashed a boundary to bring up his century, sending the Ahmedabad crowd into celebration.

Gill’s innings was a blend of elegance and power as he smashed 14 boundaries and two sixes on his way to three figures. His ability to adapt and accelerate at the right moments showcased why he is one of India’s most reliable batters in the format. This century also cemented his reputation at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where he now has hundreds in all three formats of the game.

Apart from his international success, Gill has been a standout performer at this venue in the IPL as well. He boasts a brilliant record at the ground, having scored 953 runs in 18 matches, including three centuries. His love affair with Ahmedabad continues to grow, and his latest knock only adds to his reputation as a big-game player.