After notching up his ton, Snehith took off his helmet, raised his bat and bowed down to the crowd, replicating Gill’s trademark celebration.
“We were talking before the game, the boys, on what the celebrations are gonna be. I decided the Shubman Gill bow is my celebration, it was special,” Snehith said later.
“One of my favourite players, I love the way he makes contact with the ball, his timing is exceptional and I tried to copy that to my batting a little bit,” he said in a video footage uploaded by the ICC.
His parents were also present at the ground when Snehith achieved the feat.
“That was extremely special. I think, them (parents) coming over and seeing the first game on the world stage was extremely special. They enjoyed it and I loved it.
“They just told me to enjoy, it’s a massive occasion and there’ll be nerves but I had fun and that’s the key,” he said.
The 17-year-old Snehith, who was born in Vijayawada, smashed an unbeaten 147 off 125 balls to help New Zealand reach 302 for 8 in 50 overs after electing to bat.
New Zealand then restricted Nepal to 238 for 9 for a 64-run win.
(With inputs from PTI)