In a commanding display of batting firepower and bowling resilience, Team India crushed New Zealand by 46 runs in the fifth and final T20I at Thiruvananthapuram’s Greenfield International Stadium on January 31, 2026, clinching the five-match series 4-1. This emphatic victory served as a strong statement ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, showcasing India’s depth and form in the shortest format.
Electing to bat first, India posted a mammoth 271/5 – their third-highest T20I total. The innings was ignited by a blistering 137-run partnership off just 51 balls between opener Ishan Kishan and captain Suryakumar Yadav. Kishan, in scintillating form, smashed a maiden T20I century off only 43 balls (his fifth-fastest for India), finishing unbeaten on 103 with six fours and ten towering sixes at a strike rate of 239.53. This knock not only marked his first international hundred in the format but also positioned him strongly for World Cup selection.
Suryakumar Yadav complemented the onslaught with a rapid 63 off 30 balls (four fours, six sixes), achieving a historic milestone during his innings: becoming the fastest batter in T20I history to reach 3,000 runs in terms of balls faced (1,822 deliveries), surpassing UAE’s Muhammad Waseem (1,947 balls) and outpacing icons like Virat Kohli (2,169) and Rohit Sharma (2,149). He is now the third Indian after Rohit and Kohli to cross the 3,000-run mark in T20Is.
Hardik Pandya added late fireworks with 42 off 17 balls to push the total beyond 270.
Chasing 272, New Zealand started aggressively with Finn Allen’s 80 off 38 balls, but collapsed under pressure. Arshdeep Singh starred with the ball, claiming his maiden T20I five-wicket haul (5/51) despite an expensive start (40 runs in his first two overs). He dismantled the middle order, dismissing key players like Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, and Tim Seifert. Axar Patel chipped in with 3/33 as New Zealand were bowled out for 225 in 19.4 overs.
The series win highlights India’s explosive batting lineup and versatile bowling attack, sending a clear warning to rivals ahead of the T20 World Cup. Ishan Kishan’s breakthrough ton and Suryakumar’s record-breaking consistency underline the team’s readiness for global glory.