Ishan Kishan struck his maiden T20I century to set up India’s 46-run win over New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday night. Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh bagged five wickets as New Zealand, replying to India’s 271 for five, were bowled out for 225.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan’s 137-run partnership is India’s highest for the 3rd wicket in T20Is, breaking the record of 134 between Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli. Also the 496 runs that were hit on Saturday were the second most runs scored ever in a T20I game.
After the setback of Visakhapatnam, where India paid the price for picking a lopsided, experimental team short on batting depth, normal service resumed in Thiruvananthapuram. The hosts went back to full strength both in terms of personnel and hitting muscle. They put on a near-perfect display in their last official match before the T20 World Cup.
With Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya also making hefty contributions, India hit 23 sixes, the joint-most they’ve hit in a T20I innings. This was their third-highest total in the format.
“It’s been a long year, long wait. I’ve always been dreaming of this time. I’ve been following the same things, routines. I knew I wasn’t out of form. Very good series going into the World Cup. Feeling great. It’s okay, it’s a sport, I took it in my stride. I spent a lot of time with my close friends, who told me what to do after the last series. I knew my time would definitely come. If you win or lose, you take something from the game. We’ll sit down, analyse our games and start our campaign. It’s hard on the bowlers, this format, but at the same time you need to have a good plan,” said Suryakumar.
With Sanju Samson enduring another low score in front of his adoring home crowd, Kishan also seemed to settle the contest for the wicketkeeper-opener slot, which will open up when Tilak Varma returns to the side for the World Cup.
Kishan’s left-handedness in a left-hander-heavy top order is one thing that could potentially count against him, as could his wicketkeeping; he endured a difficult night with the gloves – which he took rather than Samson – missing a stumping and a catch.
“Wanted to watch the ball and play accordingly. I think the plan in this team is to go for runs even if you’re close to the milestone. If the ball is there, you have to go for it and think about winning matches. I’m still not there, my focus is on World Cup. What’s important is we carry the same form over there,” said Player of the Match Kishan.
Chasing 272, New Zealand threatened briefly thanks to Finn Allen, who returned to the national side for the first time since March 2025 and continued his barnstorming form from the BBL, smacking 80 off 38 balls.
He put on 100 off 48 balls with Rachin Ravindra, but the magnitude of New Zealand’s target meant India only needed to break this partnership to reassert their dominance. Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh found the key breakthroughs, and Arshdeep completed a riotous turnaround, after conceding 40 in his two powerplay overs, to finish with 5 for 51, his maiden five-for in T20Is.
India wrapped up victory by 46 runs, and the margin may have been far greater had they not thrown the ball to their part-timers for the last two overs.
“We learnt a lot of stuff. Tough to beat India in their conditions. When you’re challenged a lot, it’s a good thing. Results haven’t gone our way, have learnings. It’s not easy as a bowling unit against good batting ones,” said New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner.
Brief scores: India 271/5 (Ishan Kishan 103, Suryakumar Yadav 63, Hardik Pandya 42; Ferguson 2/41) beat New Zealand 225 (Fin Allen 80; Arshdeep Singh 5/51, Axar Patel 3/33).
