In a fireworks-filled encounter at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on January 31, 2026, India delivered a commanding performance to defeat New Zealand by 46 runs in the fifth and final T20I. This victory wrapped up the series 4-1 in India’s favor, providing the perfect momentum boost ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup. Ishan Kishan’s maiden T20I century—a blistering 103 off just 43 balls—set the stage for India’s mammoth total of 271/5, while Arshdeep Singh’s maiden five-wicket haul (5/51) dismantled the Kiwi chase, restricting them to 225 all out in 19.4 overs. The match witnessed a record 33 sixes, underscoring the batter-friendly pitch and aggressive cricket on display.
Toss and Team Composition
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to bat first, aiming to post a big total on a flat wicket that promised true bounce. Both teams fielded strong lineups, with India bringing back Ishan Kishan after a minor niggle and New Zealand relying on their pace attack to contain the hosts.
India Playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
New Zealand Playing XI: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.
India’s Explosive Batting: Kishan and Suryakumar Shine
India’s innings started steadily but exploded in the middle overs, thanks to Kishan’s aggressive shift after a cautious beginning. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson provided a quick start, but Samson fell early, edging a leg-side attempt off Lockie Ferguson to third man. Abhishek followed soon after, charging down the track only to be bowled by Ferguson.
The real fireworks began with the third-wicket partnership between Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav, who added 137 runs in just 57 balls. Kishan, initially at 27 off 20, unleashed a barrage of boundaries and sixes against the spinners, reaching his century in style. His knock included 6 fours and 10 sixes, making it one of the fastest T20I tons for India. Suryakumar complemented him with a dazzling 63 off 30 balls, featuring innovative shots before being stumped off Mitchell Santner.
Hardik Pandya provided the finishing touches with a rapid 42 off 17, including towering sixes, while Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube added quick cameos. India’s total of 271/5 marked their third-highest in T20Is, with 96 runs plundered in the last five overs.
Here’s the full India batting scorecard:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 30 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 187.50 |
| Sanju Samson † | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Ishan Kishan | 103 | 43 | 6 | 10 | 239.53 |
| Suryakumar Yadav (c) | 63 | 30 | 4 | 6 | 210.00 |
| Hardik Pandya | 42 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 247.05 |
| Rinku Singh | 8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Shivam Dube | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 350.00 |
Extras: 12 (nb 2, w 10)
Total: 271/5 (20 overs, RR: 13.55)
Fall of Wickets: 1-31 (Samson, 2.5 ov), 2-48 (Abhishek, 4.6 ov), 3-185 (Suryakumar, 14.3 ov), 4-233 (Kishan, 17.3 ov), 5-261 (Pandya, 19.2 ov)
New Zealand’s bowlers struggled, with Lockie Ferguson (2/41) being the pick despite the high economy rates across the board.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Duffy | 4 | 0 | 53 | 1 | 13.25 |
| Kyle Jamieson | 4 | 0 | 59 | 1 | 14.75 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 4 | 0 | 41 | 2 | 10.25 |
| Ish Sodhi | 3 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 16.00 |
| Glenn Phillips | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Mitchell Santner | 4 | 0 | 60 | 1 | 15.00 |
New Zealand’s Chase: Allen’s Blitz Falls Short as India Strike Back
Chasing 272, New Zealand started aggressively, racing to 79/1 in the powerplay led by Finn Allen’s explosive 80 off 38 balls (8 fours, 6 sixes). Allen and Rachin Ravindra kept the required rate in check, but the tide turned after the drinks break.
Axar Patel struck first, dismissing Allen caught at long-on. Arshdeep then ran riot, removing Ravindra with a knuckleball, Santner with a bumper, Jamieson by chopping on, and Mitchell via an inside edge. Axar added two more wickets, including Phillips and Ferguson, while Varun Chakravarthy trapped Jacobs lbw with a googly. Ish Sodhi’s late 33 off 15 provided some resistance, but Rinku Singh claimed the final wicket to seal the win.
New Zealand’s collapse of 4 wickets in quick succession post-powerplay proved decisive, as they couldn’t sustain the momentum.
Full New Zealand batting scorecard:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Seifert † | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 166.66 |
| Finn Allen | 80 | 38 | 8 | 6 | 210.52 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 30 | 17 | 2 | 2 | 176.47 |
| Glenn Phillips | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 116.66 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 26 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 216.66 |
| Mitchell Santner (c) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Bevon Jacobs | 7 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 63.63 |
| Kyle Jamieson | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 180.00 |
| Ish Sodhi | 33 | 15 | 1 | 3 | 220.00 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Jacob Duffy | 9 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 180.00 |
Extras: 16 (b 8, lb 4, w 4)
Total: 225 (19.4 overs, RR: 11.44)
Fall of Wickets: 1-17 (Seifert, 0.6 ov), 2-117 (Allen, 8.6 ov), 3-131 (Phillips, 10.2 ov), 4-137 (Ravindra, 11.1 ov), 5-137 (Santner, 11.3 ov), 6-166 (Jacobs, 14.1 ov), 7-179 (Jamieson, 15.3 ov), 8-180 (Mitchell, 15.5 ov), 9-191 (Ferguson, 16.6 ov), 10-225 (Sodhi, 19.4 ov)
India’s bowling attack was led by Arshdeep’s variations and Axar’s control:
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 0 | 51 | 5 | 12.75 |
| Hardik Pandya | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 7.50 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 4 | 0 | 58 | 0 | 14.50 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | 4 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Axar Patel | 4 | 0 | 33 | 3 | 8.25 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 1 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 13.00 |
| Rinku Singh | 0.4 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 10.50 |
Post-Match Awards and Reflections
Ishan Kishan was named Player of the Match for his century and wicketkeeping duties. Captain Suryakumar Yadav praised the team’s batting depth and bowling resilience, while Mitchell Santner acknowledged positives like Allen’s form but noted the need for better middle-over execution.
This series win cements India’s dominance at home and sets the stage for an exciting T20 World Cup campaign. For New Zealand, it’s back to the drawing board after a confidence-denting tour.
