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Shubman Gill added another feather to his cap during his commanding century against Afghanistan in Lucknow on Wednesday, surpassing MS Dhoni on the list of fastest Indians to 1,000 ODI runs in terms of balls faced.The India captain reached the four-figure milestone in just 954 deliveries, edging past former skipper Dhoni, who had taken 955 balls to get there. Gill now shares third place on the all-time Indian list with Kapil Dev, while only Hardik Pandya (857 balls) and Kedar Jadhav (936 balls) have reached the landmark quicker.Fewest balls to 1,000 ODI runs for India:Hardik Pandya – 857Kedar Jadhav – 936Kapil Dev – 954Shubman Gill – 954MS Dhoni – 955Ishan Kishan – 966The latest milestone arrived during yet another masterclass from Gill, who led India’s charge in the second ODI against Afghanistan at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.After India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early and Rohit Sharma departed for 48, Gill took control of the innings. The right-hander combined with Ishan Kishan for a stunning 224-run partnership for the third wicket, putting the visitors under relentless pressure.Gill reached his ninth ODI century in just 77 deliveries before continuing his assault deep into the innings. He eventually fell for a magnificent 154 off 110 balls, an innings decorated with 22 fours and two sixes.Kishan matched Gill’s brilliance with a breathtaking 125 from 79 deliveries as the pair powered India past 300 in just 35.5 overs, one of the fastest such efforts in ODI history.Although Afghanistan staged a late comeback with the ball, India’s top-order dominance ensured the hosts finished with a formidable 402 on the board.For Gill, the innings was another reminder of his extraordinary rise in ODI cricket. By moving ahead of one of India’s greatest white-ball players in Dhoni, the 26-year-old continues to cement his place among the country’s most impactful modern-day batters.
