Shubman Gill registers maiden Test fifty, India post first half-century opening stand in 14 innings 

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Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill saw off the new ball as India got off to a good start in their first innings in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney.

In response to Australia’s first-innings total of 338, Rohit Sharma added 70 runs for the opening wicket with Shubman Gill before perishing for 26 off 77 balls when he chipping one straight back at Josh Hazlewood.

Shubman Gill, on the other hand, went on to register his maiden Test fifty in only his third innings. However, he fell soon after for 50 off 101 when he nicked Pat Cummins straight to gully.

Four interesting stats regarding India's opening-wicking stand in Sydney

Although India would be disappointed with both the openers squandering their wickets after getting starts, the duo’s opening stand brought to the fore India’s struggles at the top of the order in Test cricket.

Here are four significant stats regarding Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill’s opening partnership at the SCG.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill bring up India's first 50-run partnership for the opening wicket this Test series. How many more runs can the duo add?#AUSvIND SCORECARD ▶ https://t.co/Zuk24dsH1t pic.twitter.com/yrGGMFaJ3q

— ICC (@ICC) January 8, 2021

#1 First 50+ opening stand for India in 14 innings

Rohit Sharma (left) and Shubman Gill (right) put on 70 for the opening wicket at the SCG.

The 70-run opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill was India’s first half-century stand in Test matches after 13 innings.

A 50+ opening stand for India after 13 Test innings. The last was 317 btw Rohit Sharma & Mayank Agarwal against South Africa at Vizag in Oct 2019.Next best: 30 btw Shaw & Agarwal at Christchurch in Mar 2020.#AUSvIND #AUSvINDtest

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 8, 2021

The last one was between Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal against South Africa in Vizag in October 2019. The next best before Friday’s stand was 30 between Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal in Christchurch in March 2020.

#2 First instance of both openers lasting 20 overs outside Asia since December 2010

Virender Sehwag (left) and Gautam Gambhir (right) was the last Indian pair to last over 20 overs in a Test outside Asia.

As already mentioned before, Rohit Sharma put on 70 runs with Shubman Gill for the opening wicket to provide the visitors a good platform to put up a decent total on the board.

It marked the first time and Indian opening pair lasted 20 overs in a Test match outside Asia.

The last opening pair to do so was Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in the second innings of the Centurion Test. Their partnership lasted 29.3 overs and came 92 innings ago.

Interesting statistics. Rohit & Gill hv broken a long standing jinx of openers not lasting 20 overs outside of Asia.The last time was Sehwag & Gambir in Centurion Test in Dec 2010 when they batted for 29.3 overs. 92 innings ago.@mohanstatsman #AUSvIND

— Kishore Vaid 🇮🇳 (@KishoreVaid) January 8, 2021

#3 India’s first 50+ away opening stand after 17 innings

The 70-run partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill on Friday was India’s first half-century stand away from home after 17 innings.

The last instance of Indian openers featuring in a 50+ stand abroad came when Murali Vijay and KL Rahul added 63 runs in India’s famous win in Adelaide in December 2018.

India's first 50+ opening stand 'away from home' after 17 innings after the 63 btw M Vijay and KL Rahul at Adelaide Dec 2018#AUSvIND #AUSvINDtest

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) January 8, 2021

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#4 Shubman Gill becomes the fourth youngest Indian opener to score a half-century outside Asia

Shubman Gill raises his bat following his maiden Test fifty in Sydney.

Following his 101-ball 50, Shubman Gill (21 years and 122 days) became the fourth youngest Indian opener to register a half-century outside Asia. Current Indian coach Ravi Shastri is the youngest to do so. He scored a fifty in England in 1982 when he was 20 years and 44 days old.

Madhav Apte is second on the list; he scored a fifty in West Indies in 1952/53 when he was 20 years and 108 days old. Next comes the man whom Gill replaced in the current series: Prithvi Shaw, who was 20 years and 112 days old when he scored a fifty in New Zealand in 2019-20.