If someone is to surpass Rohit Sharma’s highest individual score in ODIs of 264, Sanjay Bangar named Indian Test captain and an all-format superstar Shubman Gill, adding that the youngster could make it if he plays for 45-46 overs.
Bangar was speaking on Doordarshan’s ‘The Great Indian Cricket Show’.
On being asked who could break Rohit Sharma’s ODI record of 264, which was scored against Sri Lanka, Bangar answered Gill: “Shubman Gill has also scored a double hundred in one-day cricket. So, he has tasted it. And if Shubman Gill plays 45-46 overs, I think he can break the record.”
In 55 ODIs, Gill has compiled 2,755 runs at an average of 59.04, including eight hundreds and 15 fifties, with a highest score of 208, which he achieved against New Zealand back in early 2023. In Hyderabad, Gill had smashed 208 from 149 balls, including 19 fours and 9 sixes in an innings that was declared after 48.3 overs. He joins an elite group of Indian cricketers with double tons in ODIs which include Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan.
He was optimistic about Abhishek Sharma breaking Yuvraj Singh’s record of the fastest half-century by an Indian in T20Is. Yuvraj achieved this record in Durban against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup when he scored 50 in 12 balls-a record that has remained unchallenged for years now. Bangar explained: “He is his student. And he hits sixes in the same way.”
Abhishek, mentored by Yuvraj, has amassed 849 runs from 24 matches and 23 innings at an average of 36.91 and a strike rate of 196.07, which includes two centuries and five half-centuries. His highest-ever score was 135 off 54 balls against England at the Wankhede Stadium this year.
The recent Asia Cup saw Abhishek thated rise to stardom, as he was named ‘Player of the Tournament’ after achieving the top scorer’s position with 314 runs from six innings at an average of 44.00 and a strike rate of 200, including three half-centuries with a top score of 75.
