NEW DELHI: Shubman Gill on Wednesday made a mockery of the New Zealand bowling attack and smashed an unbeaten 126 off just 63 balls at the jam-packed Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Tonking the Kiwi bowlers all around the park, Gill, who hit 12 fours and 7 gigantic maximums, also broke Virat Kohli's record in the match.
Virat (122* vs Afghanistan) held the record for the highest score in a T20I match by an Indian batter before this. Gill on Wednesday broke the India batting stalwart's record after smashing 126 not out, his maiden century in T20Is.
Virat took to Instagram stories and shared his photo with Gill and wrote: "Sitara. The future is here".
Gill was adjudged Man of the Match for his spectacular show that handed India a 2-1 series win in the T20I series.
"It feels good when you practice and it pays off. I was backing myself to score big. Didn't happen in the Sri Lanka series, but happy to see it work out now. Everybody has a different technique to hit sixes," Gill said at the post-match presentation.
1/10:Shubman Gill's maiden T20I ton helps India crush NZ to clinch series
2/10:Gill smashes unbeaten 126
<p>Opener Shubman Gill smashed an unbeaten 126 to help India clinch the T20 international series against New Zealand with a crushing 168-run victory in the decider on Wednesday.<br /><br /><br /></p>AFP
3/10:Gill steers India to 234-4
<p>Gill recorded his maiden T20 century for India as he steered the team to 234-4 after they elected to bat first at the world's biggest cricket ground in Ahmedabad.<br /></p>AFP
4/10:Gill smashes highest score by an Indian in T20Is
<p>Gill smashed the highest score by an Indian in T20I cricket, scoring 126* in just 63 balls surpassing Virat Kohli, who had smashed 122* against Afghanistan during the Asia Cup last year in September.<br /></p>IANS
5/10:Kiwis skittled out for 66
<p>Indian bowlers skittled out the Kiwis for a paltry 66 in 12.1 overs for a 2-1 series win. The hosts had whitewashed the Kiwis in three one-day matches.<br /></p>ANI
6/10:India post biggest-ever win in T20Is
<p>The huge victory was India's biggest ever in T20 internationals and the biggest margin by runs in a match played between two Test-playing nations.<br /></p>IANS
7/10:Gill smacks 12 fours and seven sixes
<p>India elected to bat first on a batting-friendly pitch and Gill continued his magnificent run of form -- hitting 12 fours and seven sixes in his 63-ball innings.<br /></p>PTI
8/10:Gill continues his fine run
<p>Gill had also put the New Zealand bowling to the sword with a double hundred and a ton during the ODI series.<br /></p>IANS
9/10:Gill-Pandya put on 103 runs for fourth wicket
<p>Gill put on 103 runs for the fourth wicket with skipper Hardik Pandya, who made 30 and then took four wickets with his pace bowling, at the 132,000-seater Narendra Modi Stadium.<br /></p>AFP
10/10:Bracewell traps Ishan early
<p>Off-spinner Michael Bracewell struck early as he trapped Ishan Kishan lbw for one in the second over of the innings.<br /></p>AFP"Hardik bhai told me to play my game, not do anything extra and he kept backing me. When you represent your country, there is no fatigue. It was my dream to play for India, and I am very fortunate to be part of the team in all three formats," he said.
Gill also became just the fifth Indian male batter to score centuries in all three formats. The other four in this list are - Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Suresh Raina.
India's next assignment will now be the four-match Test series against Australia at home, which begins on Feb 9. After the Test series, India and Australia are scheduled to play three-match ODI series.
India have announced their squad for the first two Tests and Gill is part of the team.
Virat and Anushka meanwhile returned from their vacation and were spotted at the airport. Virat, Anushka and their daughter Vamika had gone on a trekking holiday to the mountains.
Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma (TOI Photo)
They also stopped outside the Mumbai airport for photos.
