Former India coach Sanjay Bangar feels Shubman Gill has the potential to break one of the most iconic records in One Day International (ODI) cricket, i.e Rohit Sharma's highest individual score. In a recent appearance on the Great Indian Cricket Show on DD Sports, Bangar shared his thoughts on the next generation of Indian batters.
Sanjay Bangar reveals who can break Rohit Sharma's '264' record
Rohit currently holds the world record for the highest individual ODI score with an incredible 264 runs, which he scored against Sri Lanka in 2014. During that record-breaking innings, Rohit faced 173 balls, hitting 33 fours and 9 sixes, leading India to a dominant 153-run win.
According to Bangar, Gill's ability to play long, high-scoring innings makes him a prime candidate to surpass this record. The right-handed batter has already demonstrated his capability by scoring a double century in ODIs. Bangar believes that if Gill is given enough time at the crease, specifically around 45 to 46 overs, he could easily reach the 265-run mark.
“Shubman Gill. Because Shubman Gill has also made a double hundred in ODI cricket. So, he has tasted that. And if he plays 45-46 overs, then I think he can make 265 runs,” Bangar said in the Great Indian Cricket Show on DD Sports.
While Bangar believes some records are within reach, he feels it's nearly impossible for any modern batter to surpass Sachin Tendulkar's monumental overseas run tally. Tendulkar had an exceptionally long career, spanning 24 years, which allowed him to accumulate an astonishing number of runs. Across all formats, the Master Blaster scored a total of 34,357 runs, with a significant portion coming from matches played away from home. Specifically, he amassed 8,705 runs in away Tests, 5,685 in away ODIs, and 10 in T20Is. Given that modern cricketers are unlikely to have such lengthy careers, Bangar is confident that Tendulkar's record will remain unbroken.
“Do you know how long Sachin Tendulkar's career was? 24 years. So, in this era, I think no one will be able to survive 24 years. That's why no one will be able to break his record,” Bangar added.
Bangar has made a bold prediction about the future of Indian cricket, suggesting that Abhishek Sharma could one day break Yuvraj Singh's record for the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian batter. Bangar believes that Sharma's aggressive and powerful batting style makes him a prime candidate to surpass this long-standing milestone.
Yuvraj Singh set the record with an incredible 12-ball half-century against England during the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup. That unforgettable innings also included him hitting six sixes in a single over off Stuart Broad, a feat that cemented his legacy as one of the most destructive hitters in T20 history. Bangar feels that Abhishek Sharma, who has been mentored by Yuvraj himself, has the power-hitting capability to achieve a similar feat in the near future.
Sanjay Bangar believes Shubman Gill will go on to shatter Rohit Sharma's World Record of highest individual score in an ODI match