5th T20I: Ishan Kishan’s Century And Arshdeep’s Five-For Power India To 46-Run Win Over New Zealand, Seal Series 4-1

India produced a dominant all-round performance in the fifth and final T20I to defeat New Zealand by 46 runs at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, clinching the five-match series 4-1. A breathtaking maiden T20I century from Ishan Kishan, a fluent knock by captain Suryakumar Yadav and a match-winning five-wicket haul from Arshdeep Singh defined a high-scoring contest that showcased India’s batting depth and bowling firepower ahead of the T20 World Cup.

After winning the toss, India opted to bat first and went on to post a mammoth 271 for five in 20 overs. The innings began with an early setback as Sanju Samson failed to make an impact in his home state and was dismissed for a single-digit score. Opener Abhishek Sharma provided early momentum with an attacking 30 off 16 balls, striking four boundaries and two sixes, before his dismissal left India at 48 for two.

From there, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav took complete control of the innings. The duo combined aggressive intent with calculated strokeplay, ensuring the scoring rate never dipped. India reached the 50-run mark in 5.4 overs and finished the powerplay at 54 for two. The pair rotated the strike efficiently and punished loose deliveries, bringing up the team’s 100 in just 9.5 overs. At the halfway stage, India were 102 for two, with Ishan on 39 and Suryakumar on 27, having already added 54 runs together in just 30 balls.

The turning point came in the 12th over, when Ishan launched a brutal assault on Ish Sodhi, smashing 29 runs in the over with a sequence of fours and sixes. He raced to his half-century in just 28 balls, while the century partnership for the third wicket came up in only 44 deliveries. Suryakumar followed suit in the next over, taking Jacob Duffy apart to reach his third fifty of the series in just 26 balls. India surged past 180 runs inside 15 overs as the crowd witnessed relentless attacking cricket.

Suryakumar’s knock came to an end at 63 off 30 balls, featuring four boundaries and six sixes, following a sharp stumping by Tim Seifert off Mitchell Santner. However, the damage had already been done, with the 137-run stand firmly placing India in command. India crossed the 200-run mark in the 15.4th over and continued to accelerate through the death overs.

Ishan Kishan reached his maiden T20I century in just 42 balls, a stunning effort that included six fours and 10 sixes. He was eventually dismissed for 103 off 43 deliveries, but not before pushing India well beyond the reach of the visitors. Hardik Pandya then provided the finishing flourish with a rapid 42 off 17 balls, striking a four and four sixes. India closed their innings at 271 for five, with Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube unbeaten at the crease. For New Zealand, Lockie Ferguson was the most effective bowler with figures of 2 for 41, while Jacob Duffy, Kyle Jamieson and Mitchell Santner conceded heavily.

Chasing an imposing target of 272, New Zealand began cautiously but lost opener Tim Seifert early for five. Finn Allen counter-attacked in spectacular fashion, racing to a 22-ball half-century, the fastest by a New Zealand batter against India in T20Is. The visitors surged to 79 for one in the powerplay, which also marked the highest powerplay total India have conceded in T20Is since 2016. At the end of eight overs, New Zealand were 105 for one, keeping the contest alive.

The momentum shifted when Axar Patel dismissed Allen for a blistering 80 off 38 balls, an innings laced with eight fours and six sixes. Axar struck again soon after to remove Glenn Phillips cheaply, while Arshdeep Singh turned the game decisively in India’s favour by removing Rachin Ravindra and captain Mitchell Santner in quick succession. New Zealand slipped to 138 for five, suddenly facing an uphill task.

Despite a brief resistance from Daryl Mitchell and Bevon Jacobs, India’s bowlers maintained the pressure. Arshdeep returned to strike twice in the 16th over, dismissing Kyle Jamieson and Daryl Mitchell to complete his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 Internationals. New Zealand’s chase eventually folded at 225 in 19.4 overs, falling well short of the target.

Arshdeep finished with outstanding figures of 5 for 51, supported by Axar Patel’s 3 for 33, while Varun Chakaravarthy and Rinku Singh chipped in with a wicket each. India’s 46-run victory not only sealed a convincing 4-1 series win but also underlined their formidable form heading into the T20 World Cup, with both batters and bowlers peaking at the right time.