Gill and Rohit flip the script - 'After the powerplay, the pressure wasn't on us'
Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill added 255 runs for the opening wicket • Associated Press
Shubman Gill accepted that India were under "a bit of pressure" at the halfway point of the second ODI against West Indies, since chasing 400-plus is "never easy". The India captain said that the key was to break the chase into "small parts", and India's first target was to get at least 75-80 runs without losing a wicket in their chase of 406.
Gill scored his second double-century in ODIs - an unbeaten 223 off 133 deliveries - as India successfully completed their biggest-ever chase in the format, sealing an eight-wicket win and taking an unassailable 2-0 series lead in Guwahati. "[Rohit Sharma and I] had a target in the powerplay that if we get around 75-80 runs without losing any wicket, that would be a good start," Gill told the broadcasters after the game. "We thought initially the [new] ball might do a bit... once the ball gets old, the wicket would get much better to bat on."
Rohit and Gill ended up scoring 92 runs for no loss in the powerplay as India raced away in their pursuit of a record chase. "One side [of the outfield] was very short, so we thought we're going to target that side whenever the fast bowlers came on. And at about 25 overs, I thought if we are around 200-210 [runs], we'll be in a good space. But I think we were around 230-240 [250].
"I think after [India's] powerplay, the pressure never really was on us; it was more on them. And we didn't lose any wickets up until halfway through our innings. So, that was a great bonus for us."
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Rohit and Gill shared a 255-run partnership for the opening wicket, with Rohit scoring a 75-ball 101. "We just wanted to continue to keep batting," Rohit said after the game. "We were not thinking too much about the scoreboard, to be honest. We were just trying to play according to the merit of the ball. And we kept stitching the partnership. When you're chasing a target like [406], you need to keep stitching big partnerships. And that's what we did. Gill was fantastic on the other side, very much in control of his batting the entire innings."
Speaking about the West Indies innings, Gill said that he "thought initially [India] didn't bowl that well in the powerplay. Much similar to the first game as well." West Indies scored 96 for 1 in the powerplay, and had three centurions in their ranks: John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo.
"At the half innings, 400 on the board, there was a bit of pressure on us. No matter how good the wicket is, no matter how small the ground is, chasing 400 is never easy. They batted with a lot of freedom; they batted quite well," Gill said. "And I think at one point it looked like they might get even 420-430. And to be able to pull [back] the game, even if it's 25-30 runs, was a bonus for us at the back-end of the innings."
Gill also suggested that India might be looking to give a chance to the players in the squad who have not had a game in the series so far, which includes Mohammad Siraj, Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal. "Ideally, we'd want to give the players who haven't had a chance... a chance. And hopefully, we'll see what combination suits us [for the ODI World Cup in 2027]."
India play their third and final ODI against West Indies in New Chandigarh on October 3, before the two teams move on to a five-match T20I series from October 8 to 17.
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