Shubman Gill becomes fastest Indian to bag this historic ODI feat in series opener against Afghanistan

India captain Shubman Gill added another magnificent feather to his cap on June 13, becoming the second-fastest player in cricket history to reach 3,000 runs in One-Day Internationals. The milestone was achieved during the Men in Blue’s opening ODI clash against the visiting Afghanistan side, further cementing the young opener's reputation as a modern-day 50-over master.

Shubman Gill tastes history with '3000' milestone

Gill reached the prestigious four-digit landmark in just 62 innings, placing him second on the all-time global list. He sits only behind South African batting legend Hashim Amla, who remarkably breached the mark in 57 innings, and ahead of every other iconic batsman to have played the game.

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By achieving the feat at such a blistering pace, Gill also shattered the long-standing Indian record previously held by Shikhar Dhawan, who had taken 72 innings to reach the same milestone. The Indian skipper crossed the historic threshold in style, anchoring a 195-run chase with a crucial, elegant half-century to guide his team forward

Batters with fastest to 3000 ODI runs (by innings):

57 - Hashim Amla (South Africa)
62 - Shubman Gill (India)
67 - Shai Hope (West Indies)
67 - Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan)
67 - Imam-ul-Haq

Heading into the match against Afghanistan, Gill required exactly 47 runs to reach a major career milestone. The high-altitude venue of Dharamsala presented a stiff challenge, as rain before the toss had halved the match length to 25 overs a side, forcing India to mount a steep and aggressive chase of 195 runs.

Despite the mounting asking rate, the Indian skipper looked completely unfazed, batting on cruise mode much like his masterclasses in the IPL. He cruised to the required 47 runs in just 35 balls, punctuated by a definitive boundary and a six within the span of three deliveries against veteran spinner Mohammad Nabi. The shot that ultimately took him across the landmark was a superb exhibition of technical skill, as he confidently walked down the track to a full delivery and timed an elegant drive with enough power to beat the deep fielders stationed near the sight screen.

Just two balls later, Gill brought up his 18th ODI half-century off a mere 37 deliveries. He refused to let up after reaching the milestone, continuing his brilliant, calculated assault on the Afghanistan bowling attack to finish with a magnificent, unbeaten 84 off 66 balls. His stellar leadership at the top of the order allowed India to wrap up the chase with comfort, securing a dominant seven-wicket victory with 13 balls still to spare.