Ishan Kishan's Blazing 103 Powers India to 4-1 T20I Series Victory

David Moore · 2026-02-01

India wrapped up their 2026 T20I series against New Zealand in spectacular fashion, winning the fifth and final match by 46 runs. The victory at Thiruvananthapuram's Greenfield International Stadium sealed a dominant 4-1 series win, a perfect response after dropping the previous game. The star of the show was Ishan Kishan, who played an innings that'll be talked about for a long time. He smashed his maiden T20I century, a blistering 103 runs off just 43 balls. That's the kind of knock that changes games, and it absolutely did here. ### Kishan's Maiden Century Explosion Walking in after an early wicket, Kishan took a few balls to get his eye in. Then he just exploded. He reached his fifty in 28 balls, which is quick by any standard. But what happened next was extraordinary – he needed only 14 more deliveries to race to his hundred. He wasn't picking bowlers either. Spinners, pacers, it didn't matter. Field placements became suggestions rather than obstacles. Glenn Phillips finally caught him in the final over, but by then the damage was well and truly done. Captain Suryakumar Yadav played the perfect supporting role with a rapid 63 off 30 balls. Their partnership of 137 runs in just 57 balls for the third wicket completely broke the game open. Hardik Pandya's late cameo of 42 off 17 balls pushed India to a massive 271 for five. That total wasn't just big – it was historic. It became India's highest ever T20I score against New Zealand. In fact, it sits as the fifth-highest total ever recorded against a Full Member nation in T20I history. To put that in perspective, only four higher scores exist: - England's 304 vs South Africa (2025) - India's 297 vs Bangladesh (2024) - India's 283 vs South Africa (2024) - Afghanistan's 278 vs Ireland (2019) ### Arshdeep's Bowling Masterclass Defending 271 is never easy, but Arshdeep Singh made it look possible. The left-arm pacer ripped through New Zealand's batting lineup, claiming his first T20I five-wicket haul. His figures of 5 for 51 might look expensive, but every wicket came at crucial moments. He dismissed key players across his four overs – Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, and Daryl Mitchell. Each breakthrough kept the pressure firmly on the chasing side. Finn Allen gave New Zealand a glimmer of hope with a spectacular 80 off just 38 balls. His fifty came in 22 deliveries, the fastest by any New Zealander against India in T20Is. His 100-run partnership with Ravindra kept things interesting until Arshdeep broke through. Axar Patel provided excellent support with three wickets for 33 runs, including the crucial dismissal of Allen. Once the opener fell with 93 needed from the last five overs, the chase collapsed completely. ### Series Wrap-Up and World Cup Hints This victory capped off a strong series for India, who had won the first three matches before New Zealand took the fourth. Suryakumar Yadav was deservedly named Player of the Series for his consistent performances – 242 runs across five matches at an average of 80.66 and a strike rate of 196.74. The timing of this match was particularly interesting. It came exactly one week before the T20 World Cup 2026 begins on February 7th. India seemed to use this game to test their final combinations. One notable change saw Kishan keeping wickets in the second innings instead of Sanju Samson. That decision might just hint at India's thinking for the World Cup lineup. It's those small tactical shifts that often reveal bigger plans. This match entered the record books in another special way. It became only the fourth time in T20I history where one team had both a century-maker and a five-wicket taker in the same game. Kishan and Arshdeep joined this exclusive club alongside: - KL Rahul (101*) and Kuldeep Yadav (5/24) vs England, 2018 - Virat Kohli (122*) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (5/4) vs Afghanistan, 2022 - Suryakumar Yadav (100) and Kuldeep Yadav (5/17) vs South Africa, 2023 Even in defeat, New Zealand managed a record – their powerplay score of 79 for one became their highest ever against India in T20Is. Only West Indies (78/0 in 2016) and South Africa (78/1 in 2023) have posted higher powerplay totals against India. The conditions at Greenfield International Stadium played their part too. With square boundaries around 63 meters and straight hits measuring about 74 meters, there was value for good shots. The pitch had a dry surface with some moisture underneath, making it slightly tacky, but the fast outfield meant well-timed shots raced to the boundary. As one cricket analyst put it, "When a batter like Kishan gets going on a ground like this, bowlers are just passengers in the journey." That pretty much summed up the day. India heads into the T20 World Cup with momentum and confidence, while New Zealand has some thinking to do about their bowling plans. One thing's for sure – when these two teams meet again, we're in for another thrilling contest.