India vs New Zealand: Former India skipper Virat Kohli heaped praise on Shubman Gill after the young batter slammed 208 in India vs New Zealand 1st ODI, in Hyderabad. Gill slammed a maiden ODI double century in this match as he blazed his way to 208 off 149 balls with the help of nine sixes and 19 boundaries. His innings helped India defeat New Zealand by 12 runs to go 1-0 up in the three-match series.
In a video posted by the BCCI, the Indian team can be seen celebrating Gill's memorable feat.
"I would call it outstanding. Especially considering that the next best score wasn't even 40, and the fact that he got a double hundred was a knock at a very, very high level," said Kohli in the video.
"I think he was totally in his element today and showed why so many people have been saying such great things about him for years. I wish him all the best. Hope he builds on this. Today it was just a privilege to watch him bat."
Gill, after the match, opened up on how he planned his innings. "With wickets falling, at times I wanted to unleash and I'm glad I could do it at the end. Sometimes when the bowler is on top, you need to make them feel under pressure," Gill said about his strategy.
"I needed to avoid dot balls and show some intent and hit hard into the gaps which I was doing.
"I wasn't really thinking of 200, but once I hit sixes in the 47th over, I did feel that I could. Before that, I was playing what was coming to me." At 23 years and 132 days, Gill is now the youngest player to score a double-hundred in men's ODIs, eclipsing his teammate Ishan Kishan, who set the record with his 210 against Bangladesh last month at the age of 24 years and 145 days.
"He (Kishan) is one of my best mates... It feels nice when you are wanting to do something and it is coming off on a regular basis," Gill said.