India produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat New Zealand by 46 runs in the 5th T20I of the New Zealand tour of India, played at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, on Saturday, 31 January 2026. The match turned into a run-fest, with records falling and India finishing the series on a high.
The highlight of the night was Ishan Kishan’s maiden T20I century, which powered India to their highest-ever T20I total.
Ishan Kishan Leads India to Record Total
After winning the toss, India opted to bat and put on an extraordinary batting display.
Ishan Kishan played the innings of his life, scoring 103 runs off 43 balls, smashing 6 fours and 10 sixes. This was his first T20I hundred, and it came at a strike rate close to 240.
He received strong support from the captain Suryakumar Yadav, who scored 63 off 30 balls, and Hardik Pandya, who blasted 42 off just 17 balls. India eventually finished on a massive 271/5 in 20 overs, a total that put immediate pressure on New Zealand.
India Batting Summary
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ishan Kishan | 103 | 43 | 6 | 10 | 239.53 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 63 | 30 | 4 | 6 | 210.00 |
| Hardik Pandya | 42 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 247.06 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 30 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 187.50 |
New Zealand Fight Back but Fall Short
Chasing 272, New Zealand started aggressively. Finn Allen played a brilliant knock of 80 runs off 38 balls, while Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell added quick runs in the middle overs.
However, India’s bowlers kept striking at key moments. Arshdeep Singh delivered a match-winning spell, picking up 5 wickets for 51 runs, becoming one of the few bowlers to take a five-wicket haul in a high-scoring T20I.
New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 225 in 19.4 overs, falling short despite a strong batting effort.
New Zealand Batting Highlights
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finn Allen | 80 | 38 | 210.53 |
| Rachin Ravindra | 30 | 17 | 176.47 |
| Daryl Mitchell | 26 | 12 | 216.67 |
| Ish Sodhi | 33 | 15 | 220.00 |
Match Result & Key Records
- Result: India won by 46 runs
- India: 271/5 (20 overs)
- New Zealand: 225 all out (19.4 overs)
- Player of the Match: Ishan Kishan
- Highest match aggregate between India and New Zealand in T20Is: 496 runs
This match also saw one of the highest-scoring T20Is ever played in India, with boundaries and sixes flowing throughout the night.
India’s win in the 5th T20I was a complete team performance. Ishan Kishan’s historic century, strong middle-order hitting, and Arshdeep Singh’s five-wicket haul made the difference. The match not only sealed a memorable victory but also sent a strong message ahead of upcoming global tournaments, showing India’s batting depth and firepower at home.
