Although fans were left disappointed by Sanju Samson’s absence from the action, they quickly found solace in Ishan Kishan’s remarkable batting performance. Kishan’s explosive century helped India secure a 46-run victory against New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I, clinching the series 4-1 on Saturday.
Opting to bat first, India set a formidable target of 271-5. Kishan dazzled with a stunning 103 runs off just 43 balls, featuring 10 sixes and 6 fours, marking his first hundred in T20 cricket. He partnered with captain Suryakumar Yadav, who contributed an impressive 63 runs off 30 balls, as the duo forged a blistering 137-run stand for the third wicket in just over 10 overs.
In response, New Zealand’s opener Finn Allen ignited hope for his team with a brisk 80 off 38 balls. However, thanks to the exceptional bowling of Arshdeep Singh, who claimed 5 wickets for 51 runs, and Axar Patel, who took 3 for 33, the Kiwis were dismissed for 225 runs in 19.4 overs.
Earlier in the innings, Sanju Samson struggled again, scoring just 6 runs. His fifth successive failure in this series raises concerns about his T20 World Cup prospects. Abhishek Sharma provided a decent start with 30 runs off 16 balls before falling victim to Lockie Ferguson’s pace.
India set a record in this bilateral series, hitting 69 sixes, the highest by any team against New Zealand. Ishan Kishan’s century was the fastest by an Indian against New Zealand, reaching the milestone in just 42 balls.