In a stunning display of talent and composure, Shubman Gill has set a new record for India by becoming the fastest player to score eight centuries in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Gill achieved this milestone during India’s opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 against Bangladesh on February 20, 2025, where he scored an unbeaten 101 runs, leading India to a six-wicket victory.
Shubman Gill’s record-breaking performance
Gill’s century came off 125 balls and included nine boundaries and two sixes. With this knock, he reached the eight-century mark in just 51 innings, surpassing the previous record held by Shikhar Dhawan, who achieved the feat in 57 innings. The list of players with the fewest innings to reach eight ODI centuries now reads:
| Player | Innings |
|---|---|
| Shubman Gill | 51 |
| Shikhar Dhawan | 57 |
| Virat Kohli | 68 |
| Gautam Gambhir | 98 |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 111 |
Gill’s reflections
After receiving the Man of the Match award, Gill expressed his satisfaction with the innings, stating “Definitely one of my most satisfying innings that I have played and my first century in ICC events. Very satisfying and very happy with the way I performed.”
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Gill acknowledged the challenges posed by the pitch and emphasized his strategy of using his feet against pacers while rotating the strike against spinners.
“When me and Rohit [Sharma] bhai went out there, we thought cutting the ball wasn’t easy because the balls which were outside the off-stump weren’t coming onto the bat that nicely. So I thought of using my feet to even the fast bowlers and tried to go over the circle. When the spinners came on, me and Virat [Kohli] bhai were talking in the middle that it’s not easy to score singles off the front foot, so we’ll try to score singles off the back foot. And it’s not easy to hit down the ground, so we just keep rotating the strike. At one point, there was a bit of pressure on us. The message was sent from outside that I have to try to bat till the end and that’s what I tried to do,” he added.
Captain’s praise
India’s captain Rohit Sharma praised Gill’s performance, highlighting his consistency and class. “Gill, we know the class that he has; it shouldn’t surprise anyone. It was good to see him bat till the end,” Rohit remarked.
Summary of the match
In a match that saw India chasing a target of 229 runs, Gill’s innings proved crucial as he anchored the chase after early wickets fell. Alongside KL Rahul, who contributed an unbeaten 41, Gill guided India to victory with 21 balls to spare. This match also marked Gill’s maiden century in ICC events and added to his impressive tally in ODIs since his debut in 2019.