Ishan Kishan's explosive century and Arshdeep Singh's impressive five-wicket haul propelled India to a 46-run victory over New Zealand in the fifth and final T20 International, sealing the series 4-1. The match, played at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on January 31, 2026, served as the final warm-up for both teams ahead of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, commencing on February 7.
India, after winning the toss and electing to bat, posted a formidable total of 271/5 in their 20 overs. This score marked their third-highest ever in T20Is. Ishan Kishan led the charge with a blistering 103 off just 43 balls, which included 6 fours and 10 sixes. He was well supported by captain Suryakumar Yadav, who contributed a fine 63 off 30 balls, and Hardik Pandya, who added late fireworks with 42 off 17 deliveries.
Kishan's innings was particularly significant as it came on Sanju Samson's home ground. After a slow start, Kishan accelerated dramatically, forming a 137-run partnership with Suryakumar Yadav. His century, reaching the milestone in just 42 balls, is the fifth-fastest T20I century for India. It also served as the fastest century by any batter against New Zealand in T20Is.
New Zealand's chase began aggressively, with Finn Allen smashing 80 off 38 balls. Allen's return to the side for the first time since March 2025 provided an explosive start, but his dismissal triggered a collapse. Despite Allen's efforts, the visitors were eventually bowled out for 225 in 19.4 overs.
Arshdeep Singh spearheaded India's bowling attack, claiming his maiden five-wicket haul in T20Is. After conceding 40 runs in his first two overs, Arshdeep bounced back strongly to finish with figures of 5-51. His victims included Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, and Kyle Jamieson. Axar Patel (3-33) and Varun Chakaravarthy (1-36) provided valuable support, choking the New Zealand middle order.
The victory capped a dominant series for India, who experimented with their lineup in the final game while maintaining control. The only disappointment for the home side was the early dismissal of Sanju Samson, who scored just 6 runs. Kishan's performance, including his role as wicket-keeper, has strengthened his claim for a spot in India's playing XI for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
