Shubman Gill Surpasses Virat Kohli And Tendulkar With Back-to-Back ODI Centuries In India’s Win Over Bangladesh
Shubman Gill’s sparkling form in ODI cricket continued on Thursday as he led India to a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in their opening Champions Trophy match at the Dubai International Stadium. Gill’s unbeaten century, a composed 129 from 129 balls, ensured India got off to a winning start in the tournament.
The century was especially significant as it was Gill’s debut appearance in the Champions Trophy and his eighth career ODI century. Despite it being the slowest century by an Indian since the 2019 World Cup, taking 125 balls, former head coach Ravi Shastri, who was commentating, highlighted its importance in the context of the game. While it was the fourth-slowest century by an Indian in the past 15 years, the knock was invaluable in guiding India to the victory they needed.
For his magnificent unbeaten 1️⃣0️⃣1️⃣, Shubman Gill is the Player of the Match 👏🏆#TeamIndia win #BANvIND and register 2 points 👌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/ggnxmdG0VK#ChampionsTrophy | @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/ID5C8S2z1U— BCCI (@BCCI) February 20, 2025
This century also made Gill the fastest Indian to reach eight ODI centuries, achieving the milestone in just 51 innings. He surpassed greats like Shikhar Dhawan (57 innings), Virat Kohli (68), Gautam Gambhir (98), and even Sachin Tendulkar (111).
In addition, this was Gill’s first century in an ICC tournament, making it a special achievement. He also became the seventh Indian to score a century in the Champions Trophy, joining the ranks of Sourav Ganguly, Mohammad Kaif, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, and Tendulkar.
Gill’s knock came on the back of his superb 112 runs against England last week, which had also helped him climb to the top of the ICC ODI rankings for the first time since the 2023 World Cup. With back-to-back centuries in such crucial tournaments, Gill’s consistency and composure under pressure are becoming hallmarks of his game.
While chasing Bangladesh’s total of 228, India faced some early pressure. Bangladesh had fought back after being reduced to a dismal 35 for five, thanks to Towhid Hridoy’s maiden century and a strong partnership with Jaker Ali. Their stand of 154 runs was a record for the sixth wicket and helped Bangladesh recover to a competitive total. Mohammed Shami, with his brilliant five-wicket haul, was the standout bowler for India, helping dismantle the Bangladeshi batting line-up.
India’s chase was not without its challenges. Rohit Sharma gave them a fast start, but Bangladesh’s bowlers struck quickly, taking down some key wickets. As the pressure mounted, Gill showed maturity and took his time to settle in. Alongside KL Rahul, who provided crucial support, Gill anchored the chase and guided India to victory with calm assurance.
Shubman Gill’s knock not only helped India win but also solidified his place as one of the brightest young talents in world cricket. His ability to perform in high-pressure situations, coupled with his growing consistency, will be key as India aim for glory in the Champions Trophy.
