India Beat NZ 4-1 Ishan Kishan Smashes 103

The final dress rehearsal before the T20 World Cup 2026 turned into a historic firework display in Thiruvananthapuram. On Saturday, January 31, India didn’t just beat New Zealand—they dismantled them. Behind a career-defining maiden century from Ishan Kishan and a resilient five-wicket haul by Arshdeep Singh, the Men in Blue secured a 46-run victory to wrap up the series 4-1.

If you missed the mayhem at the Greenfield International Stadium, here is the full breakdown of how India reached its third-highest T20I total.

1. The Ishan Kishan Mayhem: 103 off 43 Balls

With the World Cup squad selection reaching its final stages, Ishan Kishan chose the loudest way possible to stake his claim. Returning to the side after missing the previous game, Kishan turned the ground into a target range.

• Fastest Milestone: Kishan reached his maiden T20I ton in just 42 balls, making it the fifth-fastest century by an Indian in this format.

• The Six-Hitting Clinic: His innings featured 10 massive sixes. The standout moment was a single over against Ish Sodhi where Kishan plundered 29 runs, effectively shifting the momentum for good.

2. A Batting Avalanche: India Posts 271/5

India’s total of 271/5 is now their third-highest in T20I history, trailing only their scores against Bangladesh (297) and South Africa (283). While Kishan was the star, the middle order provided the perfect supporting cast.

• Suryakumar Yadav (63 off 30): The captain played a classic "SKY" innings, hitting 6 sixes and becoming the highest-scoring Indian captain in a bilateral T20I series (242 runs).

• Hardik Pandya (42 off 17): Pandya’s late-game assault ensured there was no respite for the Kiwi bowlers, who conceded a staggering 36 sixes collectively across both innings.

Quick Stats: India’s Top Performers (5th T20I)

3. The Arshdeep Singh Redemption

Defending 271 sounds easy, but New Zealand’s Finn Allen had other plans. Allen played a blistering knock of 80 off 38 balls, taking advantage of a flat pitch and some early nerves from the Indian pacers.

However, Arshdeep Singh proved why he is India’s premier death bowler.

• The Recovery: After conceding 40 runs in his first two overs, Arshdeep returned to take five wickets for just 11 runs in his final two spells.

• The Final Blow: Arshdeep finished with figures of 5/51, the most expensive five-wicket haul in T20I history, but one that broke the back of the New Zealand chase.

• Spin Support: Axar Patel (3/33) was crucial in the middle overs, removing the dangerous Allen and Glenn Phillips just as the game seemed to be slipping away.

World Cup Ready

India enters the T20 World Cup 2026 (starting February 7) as the team to beat. With a settled batting order and a bowling unit that knows how to handle pressure on "batter-friendly" tracks, the confidence in the camp is at an all-time high.

Final Result:

• India: 271/5 (20 overs)

• New Zealand: 225/10 (19.4 overs)

• Man of the Match: Ishan Kishan

• Man of the Series: Suryakumar Yadav