Ahmedabad: Shubman Gill is on a red-hot streak.
Having scored a century and a double ton in the preceding ODI series against New Zealand, the opener smashed his maiden T20 International hundred to set up a record 168-run win which gave Team India a 2-1 series triumph on Wednesday night.
After Shubman’s spectacular unbeaten 126 off just 63 balls — studded with 12 breathtaking boundaries and 7 sixes – took India to 234/4, the Indian pacers bundled out New Zealand for a sorry 66 in 12 overs.
Skipper Hardik Pandya, who contributed 30 off 17 balls, bagged 4 wickets, while the young trio of Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Mavi and Umran Malik picked up 2 apiece. But for Daryl Mitchell (35) and Mitchell Santner, the other Kiwi batsmen fell for single-digit scores.
It was Shubman’s night at the gigantic Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera.
The stylish 23-year-old right-hander became he owner of India’s highest individual score, surpassing Virat Kohli’s 122* versus Afghanistan last year.
Shubman thus became only the fifth Indian batter to score international hundreds in all three formats. He joined the league of Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Kohli.
Brief scores: India 234/4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 126*, Rahul Tripathi 44). Mew Zealand 66 all out in 12.1 overs (Daryl Mitchell 35; Hardik Pandya 4/16, Umran Malik 2/9, Shivam Mavi 2/12, Arshdeep Singh 2/16).
Result: India won by 168 runs.
Series: India won 2-1.
