Mount 406 scaled: Rohit, Gill power India's record ODI chase, seal series in Guwahati

Brief score: India (406/2 in 41.4 ovs) beat West Indies (405/7) by 8 wickets in Guwahati.

If you were a bowler on this night, it was arguably the worst nightmare of a game you could imagine. West Indies had put 405 on the board, a total that should have left India with an enormous mountain to climb, but Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma made the chase look remarkably straightforward. Gill smashed an unbeaten 223, the fastest double hundred in ODI cricket, while Rohit continued to show that he has plenty left to give in the format with a 101 as India stormed to 406 for two in 43.3 overs to win by eight wickets and seal the series 2-0 in Guwahati on Wednesday.

There had been no instance since 2006 of a team successfully chasing a total of 400 or more in ODI cricket. India not only became the second side to achieve the feat, but did so with 39 balls to spare. In the process, they bettered their previous highest successful chase of 362 for one against Australia in Jaipur in 2013, with Gill and Rohit producing one of the most dominant opening partnerships India have put together in the format.

IND vs WI, 2nd ODI: Highlights | Scorecard

A COMMENDABLE SHOW BY WEST INDIES BATTERS

Before getting to India's opening pair, the West Indies batters deserve plenty of credit for the way they responded after their shortcomings in the first ODI. The middle order had struggled to carry the innings through the middle and death overs previously, but there was a clear change in approach in Guwahati. John Campbell, Shai Hope and Amir Jangoo all produced hundreds, giving the West Indies their highest-ever ODI total.

Campbell set the tone with a brutal 101 off 68 balls, smashing nine fours and five sixes. A self-confessed admirer of Chris Gayle, the opener played with the sort of freedom associated with the former West Indies great, taking the Indian pace attack on from the outset. Hope then combined patience with aggression, making the most of a reprieve after he was dropped by Virat Kohli on 27, before going on to score 104 off 94 balls with eight fours and three sixes.

Jangoo ensured the innings finished strongly, bringing up his second ODI century from just 69 balls. He ended with 114 off 77 deliveries, hitting 13 fours and three sixes, as the West Indies became the first team to have three centurions in an ODI innings. Their 405 for seven also surpassed their previous best of 389 against England in 2019 and gave India a target that looked capable of deciding the match.

SHUBMAN GILL LEADS THE WAY

The initial challenge for India was not simply to chase 406, but to do so without allowing the enormity of the target to dictate the way they batted. Gill and Rohit handled that perfectly. The India captain was prepared to take his time early on, trusting his experienced opening partner to keep the scoreboard moving while he assessed the conditions.

Rohit did more than that. The former captain brought out his trademark pull and pick-up shots against the pacers, while crisp drives through the off side kept the boundaries coming. He raced to his half-century in only 32 balls, ensuring the asking rate never became a problem for India, while Gill reached his fifty from 38 deliveries.

Once Gill found his rhythm, the chase took on a completely different feel. He brought up his 11th ODI century from just 62 balls, his fastest in the format, and began taking apart the West Indies attack with a combination of clean hitting and precise placement. His wristwork allowed him to find gaps with remarkable consistency, while his ability to step down the track and attack the spinners ensured the visitors could never settle on a plan.

India crossed 100 inside 12 overs and reached 200 without losing a wicket in the 22nd over. It was the first time an opening pair had reached 200 while chasing a target of more than 350 in an ODI. By then, the 405-run target was no longer looking like an impossible task and the West Indies were simply trying to find a way to break the partnership.

ROHIT'S LANDMARK NIGHT

The partnership eventually ended at 255 when Rohit fell for 101 off 75 balls, but by then he had already done the damage. His century was his 35th in ODI cricket and came on a night when he also crossed the 12,000-run mark in the format. Rohit became only the seventh batter overall and third Indian after Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli to reach the landmark.

The dismissal did little to change the direction of the match because Gill was now completely in command. The India captain brought up his double hundred from just 117 balls, taking the record for the fastest ODI 200 from teammate Ishan Kishan, who had reached the milestone in 126 balls. Gill's innings was eventually worth 223 not out, with 26 fours and eight sixes, as he carried India across the finish line.

The significance of the innings went beyond the numbers. Gill had initially allowed Rohit to take the lead in the chase, but once he settled in, the India captain took complete control of the contest. It was a performance that underlined both his ability to absorb pressure and his capacity to turn a difficult chase into a one-sided affair.

QUESTIONS FOR INDIA'S BOWLERS

For all the brilliance with the bat, India's bowling attack will have plenty to discuss after conceding 405. The absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who is away on Asian Games duty, and Mohammed Siraj meant another opportunity for the younger pace options, but the performance raised more questions than answers on a surface as flat as the one at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium.

Auqib Nabi, who became the third cricketer from the Valley to represent India, had a difficult outing, conceding 84 runs in 8.5 overs. Gurnoor Brar finished with 2 for 96, while Prasidh Krishna took 1 for 45 from his five overs. There was also concern over Naman Dhir, who twisted his ankle after bowling 6.1 overs and had to leave the field.

The spinners provided the brighter moments. Kuldeep Yadav finished with 2 for 65 and entered the 200-wicket club in ODIs, while Ravindra Jadeja claimed 2 for 75. But on a night when India's batting produced something extraordinary, the bowling concerns were largely pushed into the background.

West Indies had scored 405 and still lost by eight wickets. Gill's double hundred and Rohit's century turned what should have been a daunting chase into a record-breaking night, while India walked away with a 2-0 series lead and another reminder of the extraordinary depth of their batting.