In the third and final T20 International, India defeated New Zealand by 168 runs, their best-ever win in terms of runs, to win the grueling series 2-1 here on Wednesday. Shubman Gill slammed an explosive unbeaten first century in the shortest format. India defeated Ireland in Dublin by 143 runs in 2018, which was the second-largest victory margin for India. With the help of 12 fours and seven sixes, Gill displayed his variety of skills as he maintained his excellent form and scored 126 runs off only 63 balls at the Narendra Modi Stadium. After deciding to bat, India scored 234 for 4 thanks to the brilliant play of Gill.
The Indian bowlers worked together to knock out the visitors for a meager 66 in 12.1 overs, the third-lowest score for the Kiwis in this format, as New Zealand never got going in the massive chase. Hardik Pandya, the team’s captain, led the bowling attack with 4/16 while Umran Malik (2/9), Shivam Mavi (2/12), and Arshdeep Singh (2/16) each claimed two wickets. Finn Allen was caught by Suryakumar Yadav on the sixth delivery of Pandya’s opening over for New Zealand. Arshdeep, a left-arm pacer, made his first delivery, and Devon Conway tossed a bigger delivery to Pandya at mid-off, where he made a run. As Arshdeep’s final delivery of the over approached, Mark Champman got a slight inside edge that went straight to Ishan Kishan as New Zealand continued to lose wickets.
As New Zealand’s wickets continued to fall like a house of cards, Glenn Phillips was the next casualty, caught by Suryakumar at slips off Pandya. It was all but over for New Zealand when they were down 13 for 4 after three overs. When Michael Bracewell was quickly dispatched by Umran Malik, the situation worsened for New Zealand. After adding 32 runs for the sixth wicket, the New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner (13) and Daryl Mitchell (35) were bowled by Shivam Mavi. The former was caught by Suryakumar at the deep midwicket fence as the left-hander attempted to loft a short ball.
A ball later, Ish Sodhi was removed by Mavi after being caught by Tripathi at backward point as New Zealand slipped to 53 for 7 after nine overs. After that, India treated it as a formality, and the hosts sped home in style. Earlier, after choosing to bat, India’s start was far from promising. Mitchell Santner made a brilliant choice in giving Michael Bracewell the second over, and the off-spinner earned his captain’s trust by dismissing an out-of-sorts Ishan Kishan with the first ball of the over. The following over from Lockie Ferguson saw two boundaries from the in-form Gill.
When picking up hits, drives, or pulls to prolong his assault, Gill was at his most menacing. In the fifth over, he struck Blair Tickner three times for fours, helping India reach 44 for one. Ferguson was then hit by young Rahul Tripathi (44 off 22), who has tremendous potential but has not yet delivered in this series. Tripathi then lifted the left-arm spinner for a straight six after pulling Santner over short the -fine leg. Tripathi displayed his attacking prowess by driving Ish Sodhi over extra cover for his third six of the innings. However, Tripathi died on the following ball after holing out to Ferguson at deep square leg in search of one too many runs. With a single against Santner, Gill took 35 balls to earn his first T20I fifty.
Suryakumar Yadav (24 off 13) displayed flashes of brilliance when Gill maintained one end, but he was beautifully caught by Bracewell at mid-off in the 13th over as the batter mistimed his stroke. In the first delivery of the 18th over, off the bowling of Ferguson, Gill reached his century with a four over the mid-off fielder. In the next ball, he broke free and crushed Ferguson over mid-wicket for a big six. It was chaos when the captain, Pandya (30 off 17), also lost his cool. However, Gill was the star of the show as he kept on attacking after the tonne, consistently hitting the boundaries while New Zealand’s offense appeared hopeless.