India delivered a powerful statement ahead of the T20 World Cup by overpowering New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I at Thiruvananthapuram, winning by 46 runs after posting a towering total of 271 for 5.
The match turned into a batting spectacle as Ishan Kishan produced a breathtaking knock of 103 from just 43 balls, his first century in T20 internationals. His innings included ten sixes and six fours and was the centerpiece of India’s record-setting total, which became the third-highest in their T20I history.
India’s innings began with early intent from Abhishek Sharma before Sanju Samson fell cheaply once again, raising further questions about his place in the squad. Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav then took control with a destructive partnership of 137 runs, dismantling New Zealand’s spin attack and lifting the scoring rate beyond recovery.
Suryakumar matched Kishan’s aggression with a fluent 63 off 30 balls, reaching his fifty in just 28 deliveries. Together, they turned the middle overs into a relentless assault, sending the crowd into celebration as boundaries flowed freely across the small ground.
Hardik Pandya provided a late flourish with a rapid 42 off 17 balls, while Shivam Dube finished the innings in style with a six off the final delivery, pushing India past the 270 mark. India struck 23 sixes in total, contributing to the second-highest combined match aggregate ever recorded in a T20 international.
Chasing an improbable target of 272, New Zealand started aggressively through Finn Allen, who raced to 80 off 38 balls and gave his side early hope. However, once Allen was dismissed, the momentum swung sharply in India’s favor.
Arshdeep Singh, who had endured an expensive start, returned with remarkable control and finished with figures of five wickets, triggering a collapse in the New Zealand middle order. Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel applied further pressure, removing key batters and preventing any sustained partnership from developing.
Despite late resistance from Daryl Mitchell and Ish Sodhi, New Zealand were bowled out for 225 in 19.4 overs, falling well short of the target.
Ishan Kishan was named Player of the Match for his explosive century, while Suryakumar Yadav collected the Player of the Series award after leading India to a convincing 4-1 series victory.
Speaking after the match, Kishan said his focus was on playing freely and carrying confidence into the World Cup. Suryakumar described the series as a crucial confidence boost and praised the team’s fearless approach with both bat and ball.
The series win concludes India’s final preparation phase before the T20 World Cup, with both batting firepower and bowling depth showing strong signs of readiness. New Zealand, meanwhile, leave with valuable lessons after being tested in challenging conditions.
