Shubman Gill’s Century Powers India to Record Total Against England in Final ODI

India put on an impressive display with the bat in the third and final ODI against England, posting a massive total of 356 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday. The highlight of the innings was Shubman Gill’s scintillating century, his seventh in the 50-over format, along with valuable contributions from Shreyas Iyer and Virat Kohli.

A Strong Start, But Early Setback

England’s skipper, Jos Buttler, won the toss for the third consecutive time in this series and chose to field first. However, India suffered an early setback when Rohit Sharma, who had scored a brilliant century in the previous match, was dismissed for just 1. Mark Wood made the breakthrough, getting the Indian captain to edge a delivery straight into the hands of Phil Salt.

Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli steadied the ship with a crucial 116-run partnership. Both batters were cautious early on, rotating the strike and carefully building their innings. Kohli, in particular, survived a close call when he was almost run out early in the seventh over. He had set off for a quick single, only for Gill to send him back, but Kohli narrowly made it to the crease in time.

Kohli and Gill Dominate, But Rashid Strikes

With the early scare behind him, Kohli got into his rhythm, taking on Saqib Mahmood and smashing consecutive boundaries. India reached 52/1 at the end of the Powerplay and began to accelerate. The pair targeted Joe Root, hitting five boundaries in his first two overs. Adil Rashid was brought in for a counterattack, but it was Kohli’s dismissal by Rashid that ended his promising innings at 52.

Meanwhile, Gill remained solid at the crease, reaching his half-century off 51 balls. Just when it seemed that both players were headed for big scores, Gill was dismissed for 112 off 95 balls, trying to sweep a full-length delivery from Rashid that hit the stumps.

Iyer Shines with a Fiery Half-Century

Shreyas Iyer, who had been under pressure to secure a spot in the playing XI, made a statement with a quickfire 78 off 64 balls. He formed a 104-run stand with Gill, hitting eight boundaries and two sixes. Iyer kept the pressure on England’s spinners, maintaining a strike rate of 121.87, before Rashid finally dismissed him.

India’s lower order continued the onslaught, with K.L. Rahul (40) and Hardik Pandya (17) contributing crucial runs. Pandya’s two consecutive sixes off Rashid in the 41st over highlighted his attacking intent. Despite the fall of wickets, India maintained a strong pace, crossing 300 runs in the 43rd over.

Late Cameos and a Record-Breaking Total

With a few quick wickets, India’s innings entered its final phase, but the contributions of Rahul, Axar Patel (13), Washington Sundar (14), and others helped push the total to a record 356 runs — their highest-ever at the venue.

England’s best-ever chase at this ground was 325, achieved against the West Indies in 2010. However, India’s formidable total leaves them with a commanding position going into the second half of the match.

Brief Score:

• India: 356 all out in 50 overs (Shubman Gill 112, Shreyas Iyer 78, Virat Kohli 52, KL Rahul 40; Adil Rashid 4-64, Mark Wood 2-45)
• England: To chase

A Moment to Reflect

This commanding performance by India is a testament to the skill and depth of their batting lineup. With key players like Gill, Iyer, and Kohli in form, India looks set to dominate the game and close out the series in style. Will England be able to chase down this daunting total? Only time will tell.

What are your thoughts on India’s performance today? Do you think England can turn the tide? Let us know!