Intent was to put bowlers under pressure: Shubman Gill | Cricket News

HYDERABAD: opening up of young India Shubman Gillwho on Wednesday became the youngest player to smack a double century in the ODIs, said his intention was to put New Zealand bowlers under pressure and it paid off.
Gill hit a masterclass 208 on 149 balls with 19 fours and nines high to take India to a towering 349 for 8.
“I was looking forward to going out and doing what I wanted to do,” Gill said as he received the player of the match award after India’s nerve-wracking 12-point win over New Zealand in the opener of the series here.

Gill stepped up his innings brilliantly with his first 50 hits on 52 balls. He went from 50 to 100 on just 35 deliveries and again from 100 to 150 on just 35 balls. But it was his last wave that saw the acceleration take off, with Gill going from 150 to 200 in just 23 balls, breaking the two-century mark, courtesy of three consecutive sixes.
“With the wickets coming down I wanted to go wild at times and I’m glad I was able to do that in the end. Sometimes when the bowler is on top you have to put them under pressure,” Gill said of his strategy.
“I needed to dodge point balls and show some intention and hit hard into the gaps I was making.

“I wasn’t really thinking about 200, but once I got to six points in the 47th, I felt like 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 team-mate Ichan Kishanwho 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 friends… It’s nice to want to do something and it happens regularly,” Gill said.
Gill took 19 innings to complete 1000 runs in the ODIs, second fastest in the feat alongside Imam-ul-Haq.

Fakhar Zaman is the fastest to the mark, having got there in 18 rounds.
Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan (24 innings) were previously the fastest Indians at 1000 ODI runs.
“He (double ton) dug in pretty well. I wouldn’t call it a ‘wow’ feeling but it’s nice when the ball comes off the bat the way you want it to.
“There’s definitely a feeling of satisfaction. It’s definitely one of those things, like what dreams are made of,” Gill said.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma also praised Gill.
“Watching Gill bat is fantastic, hitting cleanly and no overhead shots. We wanted to give him a run before the Sri Lanka series for the kind of form he was in. He’s such a smooth batsman,” Rohit said.
Rohit also praised the Indian playmaker mohamed sirajwhich was the bowlers choice for India with numbers of 4/46.
“Siraj has been brilliant lately, even in the other two formats. He’s gotten stronger and stronger, running hard and clear about what he wants to do. He’s not afraid to use the short ball too, which is exciting,” the boss added.