India won the toss and elected to bat on a flat, batting-friendly pitch at the Greenfield Stadium. The decision paid off handsomely as runs flowed from the outset. India raced to 100 in just 9 overs, setting a punishing tone. By innings' end, India was 271/5 – their third-highest T20I total on record – secured a 46-run victory over New Zealand in the 5th T20I on January 31, 2026. Ishan Kishan's explosive 103 (43 balls) – his maiden T20I century – powered this total, complemented by brisk contributions from Suryakumar Yadav (63) and Hardik Pandya (42).
Match Summary: India 271/5 (20 overs) beat New Zealand 225 (19.4 overs) by 46 runs. Series Result: India wins 4-1. Player of the Match: Ishan Kishan (103 runs).
Kishan's Century Ignites Record Total
Ishan's innings was the highlight of India's batting onslaught. He reached fifty in 28 balls and completed his century in just 42 deliveries, ending with 6 fours and 10 sixes. TechnoSports notes India's 271/5 is now the third-highest T20I total by an Indian team. India also equaled its own record of 23 sixes in an innings. Kishan was most brutal in the latter overs – for example, in the 17th over he took Rahim Ravindra's spin for 25 runs (two sixes and a four). In fact, India scored 169 runs in the last ten overs alone, underlining the late-overs carnage.
📊 IND vs NZ 1st T20 Scorecard 2026 — Sharma 84 & Full Match Stats (Click Here)
India's innings had actually started shakily at 54/2 after openers Sanju Samson (6 off 6) and Abhishek Sharma (30 off 16) were removed by Lockie Ferguson. Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav then formed a crucial partnership of 83 runs to steady the ship. Suryakumar, who had been searching for form, embraced the challenge with a quickfire 63 off 30 balls. This partnership calmed the innings. Hardik Pandya finished things emphatically – he hammered 42 from 17 balls (including four sixes) in the final overs, helping India reach an imposing total.
Key Partnership: The 137-run partnership between Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav for the third wicket was the backbone of India's innings and completely demoralized the New Zealand bowling attack.
New Zealand's Chase and Crucial Partnerships
New Zealand began their reply positively. Finn Allen and Rachin Vardas put together a 100-run stand for the first wicket in 12 overs. Allen's innings (80 off 38) was a blaze of eight fours and six sixes, taking NZ to 131/2. With over half the chase done at a good clip, NZ still had a chance. However, India struck back quickly. Axar Patel broke the stand by dismissing Glenn Phillips in the 11th over. Soon after, Arshdeep Singh returned to bowl and took two wickets in the same over (Ravindra LBW and Santner bowled), swinging the momentum.
Under mounting pressure, New Zealand's chase unraveled. Daryl Mitchell and Ben Davids both fell cheaply as India's bowlers capitalized. Ultimately, NZ were all out for 225, falling 46 runs short of the target. Only Ish Sodhi offered some resistance, remaining unbeaten on 33, but his late cameo proved too little too late. Apart from Allen's 80 and Sodhi's 33*, no Kiwi scored more than 19. On the bowling side, only Lockie Ferguson (2/41) and debutant Mark Chapman (1/23) took wickets, while India's attack shared the rest.
Arshdeep's Five-Wicket Heroics
Arshdeep Singh emerged as India's bowling hero. After an expensive start, he struck back to finish with 5/51 – his career-best and first five-wicket haul in T20Is. His double-strike in the middle overs (removing Kyle Jamal effectively broke New Zealand's chase. This was a rare achievement for an Indian bowler in T20Is. Spinners Axar Patel (3/33) and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/27) also excelled, chipping in with key wickets to dismantle NZ's middle order. Even Rinku Singh contributed, taking the catch that ended the innings (Ish Sodhi) to complete India's win.
The collective effort underscored India's depth. With Jasprit Bumrah rested, India gave Axar and Varun full spells and tested bench strength; it paid off. India never lost control after posting the big total. The batting-onslaught-plus incisive bowling combination ensured victory. The match was a comprehensive performance: India's 46-run win sealed the series 4-1 and showcased their all-round firepower, leaving the team high on confidence heading into the World Cup.
Match Scorecard at a Glance
| Top Scorer | Ishan Kishan – 103 (43 balls) |
|---|---|
| Top Bowler | Arshdeep Singh – 5/51 |
| Player of the Match | Ishan Kishan |
| Team Totals | India 271/5 (20 overs) • New Zealand 225 (19.4 overs) |
| Result | India won by 46 runs |
| Series Result | India won the series 4-1 |
Record Alert: India's total of 271/5 is their third-highest in T20I history and featured a record-equalling 23 sixes in the innings.
Series Wrap-Up and World Cup Boost
This win was the cherry on top of India's commanding tour performance. Observers noted that India had "peaked at the right time" with the World Cup just around the corner. In fact, news reports remarked that India had "signed off on a high from their last official series". Captain Suryakumar Yadav ended the series as the top scorer (242 runs) and was named Player of the Series. Speaking after the match, Yadav said: "It's been a very good series, and going into the World Cup feeling like this is really special", emphasizing the team's positive momentum.
Media and officials highlighted Kishan and Arshdeep's feats. The BCCI website even ran the headline "Kishan hits maiden T20I century with stunning 103(43)" and posted clips of all ten of his sixes. Likewise, Arshdeep's spell was widely praised in match reports. According to the ICC match centre, the official score was India 271/5, New Zealand 225. In the India vs New Zealand 5th T20 highlights 2026, Kishan's maiden T20I century vs NZ and Arshdeep Singh's five-wicket haul today were the headline acts. India's emphatic 46-run win and 4-1 series victory give the team clear confidence and momentum heading into their upcoming T20 World Cup campaign.
Records and Next Steps
Statisticians will note multiple records were challenged. India's run rate was a stunning 13.55 runs per over, reflecting the dominance of their batting. Only a few teams have ever crossed 270 in a T20I, making this innings exceptionally rare. Kishan's strike rate (~240) is one of the highest ever by an Indian in T20Is. On the bowling side, Arshdeep's five-for, a rare feat, was the first by an Indian in a bilateral T20I since 2019. The complete performance – with multiple players contributing – now stands in the record books and archives.
New Zealand will take lessons from this tour. Apart from Allen's 80, none of their batsmen made a big score, and their bowling had few answers. For India, this match reaffirmed their batting firepower and bowling depth. The official match record confirms the result (India 271/5 vs NZ 225), and it will be cited in ICC and BCCI archives. Looking ahead, India heads into the T20 World Cup brimming with confidence after a dominant series wrap-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the India vs New Zealand 5th T20I match in 2026?
India won the 5th T20I match against New Zealand by 46 runs. Batting first, India posted a massive total of 271/5 at Thiruvananthapuram, thanks to Ishan Kishan's maiden T20I century (103). In response, New Zealand was bowled out for 225, giving India a 4-1 series victory.
What was Ishan Kishan's score in the IND vs NZ 5th T20I 2026?
Ishan Kishan scored a sensational 103 runs off just 43 balls. His explosive innings included 6 fours and 10 sixes, marking his first-ever century in T20 Internationals and powering India to a record-breaking total against the Kiwis.
Who was the Player of the Series in the IND vs NZ T20 2026?
Captain Suryakumar Yadav was named Player of the Series for scoring 242 runs across the five matches, leading India to a comprehensive 4-1 series victory.
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