Shubman Gill scored his maiden T20I century in the deciding match against New Zealand at the Motera stadium near Ahmedabad on Wednesday. The opener’s unbeaten 126 helped India clinch the series 2-1 following a 168-run victory.

Besides Gill’s innings, useful contributions from Rahul Tripathi, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya propelled India to 234/4 in their allotted overs. New Zealand, in reply, never really got going after being reduced to 7 for four in the third over with Pandya and Arshdeep Singh sharing the spoils.

Captain Pandya was the most successful bowler with 4/16 as New Zealand folded up for 66. None of their batters except for Daryl Mitchell (35) could put up a resistance against the Indians. But it was Gill’s day and his knock demoralised the visitors.

There had never been any doubt about Gill’s class and temperament but he had struggled to do justice to his class. While he was billed mostly as a Test batter for most part of his short career, he has met the demands of the limited overs variety this year.

After a double century and century in the ODIs against New Zealand, he showed how he had remodelled his game for the shortest version too. The early loss of Ishan Kishan had no impact as Gill and Tripathi ensured a blazing start.

Both batters showed the right intent with attacking strokeplay. Gill’s 63-ball knock had 12 fours and seven sixes. He was at his ominous best, as he smashed Blair Tickner for three fours in the fifth over.

Tripathi (44 off 22) then struck Lockie Ferguson for a boundary and a six off consecutive balls. His intent to go over the top resulted in holing out to Ferguson at deep square leg off Ish Sodhi.

Gill brought up his century with a four over the midoff fielder off Ferguson on the first ball of the 18th over. Then he broke free and clobbered Ferguson over mid-wicket for a huge six. Pandya (30 off 17) too went ballistic at the other end but Gill stole the show finding the boundaries at will as the New Zealand attack looked listless.

Gill thus became the fifth Indian to score a T20I hundred. He has now registered the highest score for an Indian in T20Is. Virat Kohli had held the record with an unbeaten 122 against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup last year.

“It feels good when you practise and it pays off... Happy to get the big ones... Hardik bhai told me to bat the way I do, and that there is no need to do anything extra,” Gill said after the match.

Gill has been receiving plenty of criticism for his performances in the shortest format of late. With someone like Prithvi Shaw waiting in the wings, he had been under pressure to deliver. Gill’s innings will silence critics but Kishan’s failure with the bat will once again make his place uncertain.