Gill ton helps India crush NZ to clinch T20I series

AFP, Ahmedabad :
Opener Shubman Gill on Wednesday announced himself as an all-format player with his maiden Twenty20 International (T20I) century to help India crushing New Zealand by 168 runs in a series-clinching victory.
Gill smashed an unbeaten 126 off 63 balls to steer the team to 234-4 after they elected to bat first in the decider at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.
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.
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.
Gill, who hit a match-winning Test ton in Bangladesh in December and then his maiden ODI double hundred in January, had scored just 76 runs in his previous five T20Is since making his debut last month against Sri Lanka.
“I was backing myself to get the big ones even in ODIs and T20Is, unfortunately it don’t happen for me in the Sri Lanka series,” said the 23-year-old Gill.
Asked about the demands of playing all three formats, Gill said: “When you are representing your country, I don’t think there is any kind of fatigue. I always wanted to play for India and being fortunate enough to play all the three formats, it is a blessing.”
India elected to bat first on a batting-friendly pitch and Gill continued his magnificent run of form — hitting 12 fours and seven sixes.