Shubman Gill Joins Virat Kohli In Incredible List After Third Century
He also became fourth batter in IPL history to complete 800 score in a single season.
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Shubman Gill committed a heinous act, and once again it occurred at his cherished Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. At the same venue where he scored his first IPL century less than two weeks ago, Gill scored his third century of the 2023 season in the Qualifier 2 match against the five-time defending champions Mumbai Indians. And with the hit, Gill joined Virat Kohli on the IPL's all-time greats list and solidified his position in the race for the Orange Cap.
Gill was the consensus answer when experts were asked at the beginning of the season who could surpass Kohli's record for the most runs scored in an IPL season. With centuries in Test, T20I, and ODI cricket, as well as a double-century in ODIs, he entered the season on the heels of a stellar run across all three formats, which led many to believe he would succeed Kohli.
On Friday, against Mumbai Indians, Gill maintained his phenomenal form. And banking on the home conditions in Ahmedabad, where he has already scored over 500 runs this season, the only batsman ever to reach the mark at a particular venue, the Gujarat Titans opener scored a 49-ball century that carried the home team's score past the 150-run mark in the 15th over.
Gill became the second Indian to score three or more centuries in a single season, following Kohli's record-setting four-century performance in 2016. Overall, he is the third batsman in the 2022 season with four centuries, tied with Jos Buttler.
Gill also became the second Indian batsman after Kohli in 2016 to score 800 or more runs in a single season. Overall, he is ranked third on the list, behind Buttler (863 runs in 2016).
The triple-digit score also aided Gill in solidifying his position atop the Orange Cap list. He needed only nine runs to surpass the RCB captain Faf du Plessis, who scored 730 runs during the season.
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After being asked to bat first in a crucial home match, Gill and Wriddhiman Saha put together another fifty-run opening stand before the senior batsman was dismissed by Piyush Chawla, courtesy of a spectacular stumping by wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan. The 23-year-old began to find his rhythm with sixes against Chawla and Kumar Kartikeya, which helped him reach fifty before he cleaned up Akash Madhwal, the 5/5 bowler. Gill hit him for three sixes in a 21-run over before hitting Chawla for two sixes and a four.
Gill ultimately concluded his innings with 129 runs off 60 balls in the 17th over, surpassing Shane Watson's knock of 117 for Chennai Super Kings against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2018 final.
