Shubman Gill, Team India’s star youngster, produced an outstanding performance, remaining unbeaten on 126 in the series finale against New Zealand on Wednesday. Thanks to his brilliant knock in the series decider, India cruised to a 168-run victory, their largest-ever margin of victory in the format.
Shubman Gill was the star of the night, smashing 12 fours and seven sixes on his way to 126*, the highest score by an Indian in a T20I innings. However, Gill’s start in the format had not been easy; after making his T20I debut in India’s first match of the calendar year against Sri Lanka, the 23-year-old opener had only 76 runs to his name in five matches.
There were calls to replace Gill, but Indian captain Hardik Pandya, who also leads Gill’s Indian T20 League franchise Gujarat, remained confident in the right-handed opener. Following the game, Gill thanked Pandya and the team management for their support during his difficult start.
“I didn’t do well up to my expectations in T20s. So I was eager to do well. You gave me the confidence before the match. Before I went to the game, you told me match se pehle ki jaise main khelta hu vaise hi khelo (before the match, you asked me to keep faith in my game). Vo chhoti chhoti cheez help karti hai (those small things help) when I know I don’t have to do anything extra, or anything that’s not me. that helped today. The way I practice, the way my dad made me practice, I think 90 percent credit goes to him,” Gill told Pandya in a post-match chat.
During the third T20I, Gill recalled how Hardik Pandya consistently kept the former’s aggression in check. “To be able to play how I play, I’ve to be very mentally clear. That’s what you told me. Every time I hit a six, he (Hardik) came and told me hold your shape. You don’t have to do anything extra. Don’t try to go too hard. Every ball, he kept reminding me. Especially in the last over against Santner. I was in the zone, I was hitting. I thought maybe I will go for him. But you told me to hold myself back, and to target the other bowlers. Because he had been bowling well. Tactically and technically, it was a near-perfect game for me,” said Gill.
