As Shubman Gill removed his helmet and performed his signature bow to celebrate reaching the three-figure mark, a radiant smile spread across his face. A punch on the bat followed, and he soaked in the applause from the dressing room and the crowd—this time, with a deep sense of fulfillment.
The 25-year-old’s eighth ODI century was his slowest in the format, but its significance lay in the sheer control, composure, and strategic brilliance he displayed. Unlike his usual free-flowing knocks, this was an innings that demanded adaptability, patience, and tactical shifts to guide India to victory.
Gill and Rohit Sharma started briskly, but as wickets tumbled and Bangladesh tightened their grip with spin, the vice-captain shifted gears seamlessly. Realizing that cut shots weren’t as effective due to the sluggish nature of the surface, he quickly altered his approach, using his feet against pacers and rotating strike smartly with Virat Kohli in the middle overs.
“When Rohit bhai and I started our innings, we realized that deliveries outside off weren’t coming onto the bat smoothly. To counter that, I chose to use my feet even against the pacers and play over the infield. When the spinners were introduced, Virat bhai and I talked about how difficult it was to score off the front foot, so we prioritized rotating the strike with back-foot shots to keep the scoreboard moving,” Gill shared after receiving the Player of the Match award.
His half-century came in 69 balls—his slowest in ODIs—but despite the cautious approach, he never looked out of control. Kohli and Shreyas Iyer failed to convert their starts, and with Axar Patel departing early, India found themselves at 144/4. The message from the dressing room was clear: one set batter needed to bat through, and Gill took on that responsibility with remarkable maturity.
Even as he anchored the innings, flashes of his elegance remained. While the usual off-side jabs and dominant ground strokes were less frequent, he still produced moments of brilliance—an exquisite cover drive, a towering 98m pull, and an effortless flick into the stands that had the cameras clicking nonstop.
“Definitely one of my most satisfying innings…” Gill admitted, acknowledging the special nature of the knock.
Though not a typical Shubman Gill century in terms of aggression, it was a masterclass in adaptability under pressure. More than just another hundred, it was an innings that proved his evolution as a batsman—one that he will cherish for years to come.
