Thiruvananthapuram: Ishan Kishan produced a breathtaking maiden T20I century, while Arshdeep Singh bounced back in style with a five-wicket haul as India powered to a commanding 46-run victory over New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I, sealing the series 4–1 in emphatic fashion.
Kishan’s scintillating knock not only overshadowed another disappointing outing for Sanju Samson but also underlined India’s growing confidence ahead of their T20 World Cup title defense. The left-hander’s assault, combined with a destructive cameo from captain Suryakumar Yadav, propelled India to a mammoth 271 for five, a total that effectively decided the contest long before the final ball.
India’s innings began on a shaky note with Samson once again failing to make an impression. The opener was dismissed for just six, marking his fifth successive failure in the series and casting fresh doubt over his World Cup prospects. Abhishek Sharma provided brief momentum with a brisk 30 off 16 balls but fell to extra pace from Lockie Ferguson, leaving India at a modest 54 for two in the Powerplay.
What followed was pure carnage.
Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav stitched together a devastating 137-run partnership for the third wicket in a little over 10 overs, completely dismantling the New Zealand bowling attack. Kishan, who had missed the previous match due to an unspecified injury, showed no signs of rust, using his lightning-fast hands and sharp footwork to dominate both pace and spin.
The left-hander reached his half-century in 28 balls and went on to complete his maiden T20I hundred in just 42 deliveries. His final score of 103 off 43 balls, studded with six fours and ten towering sixes, left the crowd at Greenfield Stadium spellbound. Particularly brutal was his assault on leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, whom he plundered for 29 runs in a single over.
Suryakumar matched the tempo at the other end, racing to 63 off 30 balls and becoming only the second Indian to cross 3,000 T20I runs. Although he fell while attempting to accelerate further, Kishan continued the onslaught unabated.
Hardik Pandya added the finishing touches with a muscular 42 off 17 balls, ensuring India crossed the 250-run mark for the fourth time in their T20I history. India smashed 189 runs in the final 11 overs, scoring at a staggering rate of over 17 runs per over.
Chasing an imposing target, New Zealand began with intent, led by a ferocious innings from Finn Allen. The right-hander, fresh from a prolific Big Bash League season, tore into India’s new-ball attack, particularly Arshdeep Singh, who conceded heavily in his opening spell.
Allen hammered 80 off just 38 balls, reaching his fifty in 22 deliveries and giving the visitors fleeting hope. His aggressive stand of 100 runs with Rachin Ravindra briefly lifted New Zealand, but the chase lost momentum once Allen was dismissed by Axar Patel.
Axar (3/33) and Varun Chakravarthy (1/36) tightened the screws in the middle overs, choking the run flow and forcing risky shots. From there, wickets fell regularly, and New Zealand never truly recovered.
Arshdeep, who had endured a torrid start by conceding 40 runs in his first two overs, made a stunning comeback. The left-arm pacer tore through the lower order, picking up four wickets for just 11 runs in his final three overs to finish with an impressive 5 for 51. New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 225, falling well short despite moments of resistance.
The match offered clear signals ahead of the T20 World Cup. Samson’s continued struggles, coupled with Kishan taking up wicketkeeping duties later in the match, hinted at possible changes in India’s plans for the global tournament.
For India, the resounding victory capped a dominant series and provided strong momentum going into the ICC event. With explosive batting, depth in finishing, and bowlers capable of striking back even after early setbacks, the hosts wrapped up their preparations on a highly positive note, sending a clear warning to their rivals on the world stage.