Shubman Gill records his maiden Test fifty on day two of Sydney Test

India's new opening duo, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, helped India get off to a good start in their first innings of the third Test. In response to Australia's first-innings total of 338, Rohit Sharma added 70 runs and Shubman Gill before perishing 26 off 77 balls. Shubman Gill went on to record his maiden Test fifty. However, the youngster fell soon after 50 of 101 as he nicked Pat Cummins straight to gully.

Four interesting stats regarding India's opening-partnership in Sydney

Although the visitors would be disappointed as both the openers gave away their wickets, the duo's opening partnership gained importance at the top of the order in Test cricket.

Here are some important stats regarding Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill's opening stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

1. This was the first 50+ opening partnership for India in 14 innings.

The opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill was the team's first fifty partnership in Test matches after 13 innings. Earlier it was between Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal against South Africa in Vizag back in October 2019. 

2. It was the first instance of both openers lasting 20 overs outside Asia since December 2010

This was the first instance that an Indian opening duo lasted 20 overs in a Test match outside Asia. The last opening duo to do so was Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir. Their opening stand lasted 29.3 overs that came 92 innings ago.

3. Team India's first 50+ away opening stand after 17 innings

The 70-run partnership between Rohit and Shubman was the sides first half-century stand away from home. This came after 17 innings. Previously, Murali Vijay and KL Rahul added 63 runs in India's famous win in Adelaide in December 2018.

4. Shubman Gill turns into the fourth-youngest Indian opening batsman to score a half-century outside Asia

With his 101-ball 50, Shubman Gill becomes the fourth-youngest Indian opener to record a fifty outside Asia. Current Indian coach Ravi Shastri was the youngest to achieve this feat. Shastri smashed a fifty in England in 1982 when he was 20 years old. Madhav Apte is second on the elite list as he scored a fifty in West Indies in 1952/53. Prithvi Shaw also scored a half-century in New Zealand in 2019-20.

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