It was a night to forget for New Zealand at Ahemdabad yesterday as the men in blue went all guns blazing, thrashing the Kiwis by a gargantuan 168 runs to clinch the T20I series 2-1.
India’s ultra-attacking approach was full on display, led by skipper Hardik Pandya, who picked up four wickets. The side posted a mountain of 234/4 runs for the black caps to chase, initiated by a blazing inning from Tripathi, Shubman Gill registered a thunderstrom century. Both men kept the crowd on their toes, hitting the ball across the park in every direction and swang the momentum in the hosts favour.
Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi, credits: Twitter
Sanjay Bangar on Rahul Tripathi
The dashing right handed batter smashed four fours and three sixes in his knock of 44 runs off 22 balls, which earned him praises from all over the cricketing world. On an interview with Star Sports, former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bhangar was all praises.
“Rahul Tripathi knew that he was playing an amazing knock and was in exceptional rhythm as well, but got out unfortunately. It would be less, however much you might praise him. He is fully justifying the role the Indian team has given him.” told Bangar.
Sanjay Bhangar, credits: Twitter
Shubman Gill, on a Path of his Own
While Tripathi’s innings was a teaser for what was to come, it was all over Shubman’s night, who hit his first-ever T20 century, a blistering 126*(63) , putting an end to questions about his T20I game.
The young man has so far had a year of his dreams, having already hit two centuries and a double century in the ODI format, where his spot is almost sealed.
Shubman Gill, credits: Twitter
And with this, New Zealand’s dream of registering their first ever series on Indian soil went to ashes, owing to their lack-lustre batting and below-par bowling.