India's opener Shubman Gill showcased his exceptional form in One Day International (ODI) cricket on Thursday. Making his Champions Trophy debut at the Dubai International Stadium during the Group A match against Bangladesh, he achieved his eighth career century. His unbeaten innings of 129 balls played a crucial role in securing a victory for India, as they triumphed over Bangladesh by six wickets.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri noted on air that this was the slowest century by an Indian in ODI cricket since the 2019 World Cup, as Gill reached the three-figure mark on his 125th delivery. However, he described the innings as "invaluable" considering the match context. In terms of balls faced, it ranks as the fourth-slowest century by an Indian in the past 15 years. Nevertheless, this performance made him the fastest Indian batter to achieve eight ODI centuries, accomplishing the milestone in just 51 innings, surpassing Shikhar Dhawan (57), Virat Kohli (68), Gautam Gambhir (98), and the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (111).

As India's vice-captain, Gill became the seventh Indian player to score a century in the Champions Trophy, joining the ranks of Dhawan, Sourav Ganguly, Mohammad Kaif, Rohit Sharma, Virender Sehwag, and Tendulkar. This also marked his first century in an ICC tournament.

Additionally, this was the young cricketer's second consecutive hundred, following his score of 112 against England last week in Ahmedabad, a performance that propelled him to the top of the ICC rankings for the first time since the 2023 ODI World Cup.

India make winning start

India's winning start was not without challenges, as both teams faced difficulties at the Dubai International Stadium. Bangladesh, after being reduced to 35 for five, fought back valiantly.

Towhid Hridoy achieved his maiden century, becoming Bangladesh's first centurion in an ICC tournament. He formed a record 154-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Jaker Ali, helping Bangladesh reach a respectable total of 228. For India, Mohammed Shami stood out with a remarkable five-wicket haul.

Bangladesh subsequently struck back against India by claiming wickets after allowing a rapid beginning. Rohit Sharma initiated the innings with aggression, while Shubman Gill opted for a more measured approach to establish himself. Rishad posed challenges to both Virat Kohli and Axar Patel, whereas Mustafizur Rahman outsmarted Shreyas Iyer with a well-executed slower ball. Nevertheless, KL Rahul and Gill effectively countered the mounting pressure, guiding India to victory.

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