In the fifth T20 International against New Zealand on January 31 at Thiruvananthapuram, Ishan Kishan of Team India produced a spectacular batting display. When India opted to bat first after winning the toss, Kishan entered the game at number three and applied immediate pressure on the New Zealand bowlers. He exhibited an aggressive style of play and collected his first hundred in T20 Internationals by scoring a magnificently played and executed century.

Over the 20 overs of play, Kishan pounded 103 runs off 43 balls with 6 fours and an incredible 10 sixes for a strike rate of 239.53. His 103 runs helped India reach a total of 271 runs for 5 wickets after their allotted 20 overs. In the entire series Kishan scored 215 runs in 4 matches for an average of 53.75 and a remarkable strike rate of 231.18; these numbers clearly illustrate Kishan's outstanding form and contribution to the Indian Team's success.

See Also: Watch: Ishan Kishan's maiden T20I century celebration in IND vs NZ 5th T20I

#3 1000 T20I runs

After his fantastic century, Ishan Kishan has made his mark as a member of the elite group of players who have reached 1,000 runs in T20I cricket for India. He becomes only the 14th Indian batter to achieve this feat. Ishan made his international T20I debut against England in 2021. After a brief hiatus from T20I cricket, he returned during the New Zealand series and has played 36 T20I matches. He has scored over 1,011 runs across that period in 36 innings while averaging 28.88 and striking at an incredible rate of 137.92 to date. Ishan’s T20I record consists of 1 century and 7 half-centuries, which demonstrates his ability to play effectively on the international stage.

India and New Zealand will lock horns for the last time in the series as they clash in the 5th T20I on Saturday, January 31, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. India has already won the series with a 3-1 lead, but both teams will be eager to end the series on a positive note.

India began the series with a strong note as they won matches in Nagpur, Raipur, and Guwahati with their impressive all-round display. But their winning streak came to a halt in the fourth T20I at Visakhapatnam as they suffered a massive defeat. Suryakumar Yadav will be leading the home side as they look to bounce back and seal the series 4-1 before turning their attention to the T20 World Cup 2026.

New Zealand finally found their rhythm in the previous match, showing better teamwork with both bat and ball. That win will give them confidence, and they will aim to carry the same energy into the final game. A victory here would help the Mitchell Santner-led side take some positives from the tour before heading into the global tournament.

IND vs NZ: Pitch Report

The pitch at Greenfield Stadium usually offers a good balance between bat and ball. Batting gets harder as the game progresses with the surface becoming slower. Teams favor putting up a big first-innings total, as it is difficult to chase under lights. 

IND vs NZ: Head-to-Head in T20Is

• Matches Played: 29
  
• India Won: 15
  
• New Zealand Won: 11
  
• Tied / No Result: 3

See Also: Watch: Mohammad Kaif, Virender Sehwag, and Yuvraj Singh enjoy in Thailand as video goes viral

IND vs NZ: Predicted Playing XIs

India (IND):

Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh,  Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy

New Zealand (NZ):

Mitchell Santner (c), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert (wk), Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi

India and New Zealand are set to face off for the final time in the five-match T20I series, with the fifth encounter scheduled for Saturday, January 31, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. With India already securing the series 3-1, the hosts will aim to end the assignment on a high. The Suryakumar Yadav-led side dominated the opening three matches in Nagpur, Raipur, and Guwahati, showcasing superior all-round performances before suffering a rare setback in the fourth game.

In Visakhapatnam, India struggled to maintain cohesion and were comprehensively beaten by 50 runs, allowing New Zealand to register their first win of the series. The visitors, led by Mitchell Santner, finally displayed collective effort and resilience, which will boost their morale. Heading into the series finale, New Zealand will look to build on that momentum and gain valuable confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, while India target a convincing 4-1 series triumph.

See Also: ICC announces match referees and umpires for IND vs PAK and other group Stage matches of T20 World Cup 2026

IND vs NZ, 5th T20I: Live Streaming Details

IND vs NZ, 5th T20I: Probable Playing XI

India

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakravarthy

New Zealand

Tim Seifert (WK), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), Jimmy Neesham, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi

Former India cricketer and noted commentator Aakash Chopra has openly backed Shreyas Iyer after the Mumbai batter was left out of the playing XI for the fourth T20I between India and New Zealand in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. Chopra questioned the rationale behind the team management’s selection choices, suggesting that excluding a proven batter like Iyer was unnecessary. He stressed that Iyer’s presence in the middle order would have added stability and experience, and including him would not have disrupted the team’s balance in any way.

Chopra further highlighted that India effectively went into the match with one batter short, which could have been avoided with Iyer’s inclusion. He felt that such decisions place undue pressure on the rest of the batting lineup, especially in a high-intensity T20 contest. According to Chopra, players like Iyer, who have consistently performed in pressure situations, deserve clearer communication regarding their roles. His comments sparked discussion around selection consistency and the importance of backing established performers in the shortest format.

See Also: Big blow for USA as star player charged under anti-corruption code before T20 World Cup 2026

"Playing Shreyas Iyer wouldn’t have harmed anyone…instead going in a batter short. Also, batting first to challenge the bowlers in the second innings (dew expected) wouldn’t have been a bad idea either… #IndvNZ," Aakash Chopra's tweet read. 

Playing Shreyas Iyer wouldn’t have harmed anyone…instead going in a batter short. Also, batting first to challenge the bowlers in the second innings (dew expected) wouldn’t have been a bad idea either… #IndvNZ

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 28, 2026

New Zealand beat India by 50 runs in 4th T20I

After Tilak Varma was forced to withdraw from the India vs. New Zealand T20I series due to injury, Shreyas Iyer was brought in as an alternate. Unfortunately, he is still waiting for an opportunity; his chances seem slim for the final T20I of the series at Trivandrum. Sports broadcaster Aakash Chopra opined about the team's composition, saying that India made an error in judgment when they chose to bowl first; had they batted first, they would have placed pressure on the NZ bowlers, especially due to the dew factor being the significant decider later in the match.

New Zealand exploited the conditions by scoring 215 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs after being inserted to bat by India. Tim Seifert led all scorers with 62 runs from 36 balls; Devon Conway contributed 44 runs to the score off 23 balls; Daryl Mitchell added 39 not out off 18 balls. As a result, India was all out for 165 runs in 18.4 overs (despite the best efforts of Shivam Dube, who scored an impressive 65 runs in 23 balls); this gave New Zealand their second consecutive T20I win over India (by 50 runs). Mitchell Santner led New Zealand's bowling attack with figures of 3 wickets for 26 runs.

Visitors New Zealand finally claimed their first win of the five-match T20I series against the hosts India, as the Blackcaps are now trailing the series by 3–1 with one match yet to be played. 

On Wednesday night (January 28), India chose to field first after winning the toss at Visakhapatnam. While New Zealand scored 215/7 in 20 overs, India were all out for 165 runs, as New Zealand won by 50 runs.

It was New Zealand's second-largest T20I win against India by runs, as the Blackcaps' record was the 80-run victory during the 2019 Wellington T20I. It was also India's third-largest T20I defeat by runs. 

New Zealand got powerful start

New Zealand got a powerful start with a 100-run partnership for the first wicket in only 8.2 overs by the openers Devon Conway and Tim Seifert. While Conway scored 44 off 23 balls with four fours and three sixes, Tim scored 62 off 36 balls with seven fours and three sixes. 

Although New Zealand were losing wickets at regular intervals since the first-wicket partnership break, Glenn Phillips (24) and Daryl Mitchell (39*) had some useful cameos. Mitchell scored 39 not out off 18 balls with two fours and three sixes. 

Among the Indian bowlers, Arshdeep Singh (2/33) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/39) picked up two wickets each. 

Watch: Shivam Dube faces unfortunate run-out dismissal for 65 during IND vs NZ 4th T20I

Shivam Dube's storm wasn't enough

In reply, opener Abhishek Sharma scored a golden duck, which remained India's fate for the entire innings. Four Indian batters managed to reach double-digit scores, who were Sanju Samson (24), Rinku Singh (39), Ravi Bishnoi (10*), along with Shivam Dube, who played a fiery knock of 65 in just 23 balls with three fours and seven sixes.  

In the 12th over, India scored 29 runs, where Shivam Dube slammed three sixes and two fours to the leg-spinner Ish Sodhi. But there weren't enough supporting innings, as the hosts suffered a big defeat, while already securing the series.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner finished with the bowling figures of 4-0-26-3, while Jacob Duffy (2/33) and Ish Sodhi (2/46) got two wickets each. 

Although the series is already sealed in India’s favour, attention now shifts to the fourth T20I between India and New Zealand at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, January 28. With an unassailable lead, the hosts will play without pressure, while the visitors will be keen to salvage pride. India, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, have dominated proceedings so far, showing consistency and confidence throughout the five-match series, leaving New Zealand searching for answers ahead of the Vizag clash.

From the opening game in Nagpur to the decisive third T20I in Guwahati, India have looked well-rounded in all departments. Their batters have fired collectively, bowlers have delivered at key moments, and the fielding unit has remained sharp. As a result, India will aim to push their advantage further by extending the lead to 4-0. New Zealand, meanwhile, have shown flashes of quality but struggled to click as a unit. Led by Mitchell Santner, they will hope to rediscover their rhythm and put up a stronger fight in Visakhapatnam.

See Also: ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Top 3 Memorable Batting Innings in the T20 World Cup History

IND vs NZ, 4th T20I: Live Streaming Details

IND vs NZ, 4th T20I: Probable Playing XI

India (IND):

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah/Harshit Rana

New Zealand (NZ):

Tim Seifert (WK), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), Jimmy Neesham, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy

Abhishek Sharma's remarkable performance in the third T20I against New Zealand took everyone by surprise; the New Zealand players included. Sunday in Guwahati, Sharma hit everything on the ground. The aggressive style of hitting allowed him to clear the 50-run mark with many balls remaining during his innings. The remarkable display was evident when New Zealand's team responded with surprised laughter and a level of disbelief at the timing, and shots he created during the innings.

The funny moment of the New Zealand players conducting an inspection of Sharma's bat from mid-pitch has captured the attention of cricket fans worldwide. The video clip has since been widely circulated online, showing captain Mitchell Santner, Devon Conway, and Jacob Duffy inspecting Sharma's bat, looking amused while doing so. Their reaction or laughter while inspecting the bat looked like an amused way of expressing admiration for Sharma's excellence and talent. But as funny as this moment was, it highlighted the level of respect and disbelief generated during the cricket community since he began playing internationally.

See Also: Know dates and Venues for warm up matches of India for upcoming T20 World Cup 2026

The incident also evoked memories of one of Indian cricket’s most talked-about legends. Fans recalled the 2003 World Cup final, when urban myths suggested that Ricky Ponting had used a “spring bat” to devastate India’s bowlers. Two decades later, Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking blitz has sparked similar jokes and amazement, though it is simply a testament to a young cricketer at the peak of his powers. His combination of timing, strength, and fearless stroke play continues to redefine T20 batting, leaving fans and opponents alike mesmerized.

Watch the video here;

Yesterday, New Zealand players were checking Abhishek Sharma’s bat after the match.

I don't recall any other player’s bat being checked like this

The last time I remember opposition players checking a bat was during Sachin Tendulkar's era

pic.twitter.com/SEgwHktqcn

— Space Recorder (@1spacerecorder) January 26, 2026

India chased down 154 runs target in 10 overs 

Chasing a modest 154, Abhishek Sharma transformed the contest into a one-sided spectacle with a breathtaking assault. The left-hander raced to a half-century in just 14 balls, the second-fastest by an Indian in T20Is, narrowly missing Yuvraj Singh’s famous 2007 mark. What stood out even more was his flawless approach — Abhishek didn’t face a single dot ball, finishing unbeaten on 68 from only 20 deliveries. Alongside Suryakumar Yadav’s rapid 57, India completed the chase in exactly 10 overs.

The emphatic win handed India an unassailable 3-0 advantage in the five-match series and underlined their dominance. New Zealand batter Mark Chapman later lauded Abhishek, calling his six-hitting prowess “second to none.” The Punjab opener, who first grabbed attention with his fearless IPL batting, now owns a staggering T20I strike rate of 195.22. As India gear up to defend their T20 World Cup crown, Abhishek has made it clear the real threat isn’t the bat — it’s the batter.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, marking the 10th edition of the prestigious global tournament. India enter the competition as the defending champions, having lifted the title in the previous edition. With world-class venues and subcontinental conditions in play, the tournament is expected to deliver high-octane cricket and intense rivalries. Fans around the world are gearing up for a month-long spectacle featuring the best T20 talent from across the globe.

A total of 20 teams will compete in the 2026 edition, divided into four groups of five teams each. Co-hosts India have been slotted into Group A, where they will face Namibia, Netherlands, USA, and arch-rivals Pakistan in the group stage. Each team will play the others once, with the top two sides from every group advancing to the Super 8 stage. This phase will further intensify the competition as teams battle for places in the knockout rounds.

See Also: Watch: Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube practicing right after India's emphatic win against New Zealand in 3rd T20I

Following the Super 8s, the tournament will move into the knockout phase, beginning with the semifinals. The first semifinal is scheduled for March 4, followed by the second on March 5. The winners will then lock horns in the grand final on March 8 to decide the new world champions. As the countdown to the marquee event begins, fans eagerly await a closer look at the group-wise squads shaping up for what promises to be a thrilling World Cup.

Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Group A squads

India (IND) and New Zealand (NZ) square off in the third T20I at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday, January 25. Suryakumar Yadav's men are on the brink of another T20I series win. They have already taken a 2-0 lead after winning the first two matches comprehensively. India will look to wrap up the series on Sunday and use the last two matches to test some combinations which may come in handy during the T20 World Cup.

On the other hand, New Zealand will look to learn from their mistakes in the first two matches and bounce back strongly. The bowling department for the Kiwis has looked ordinary. Also, the batters need to convert their starts into substantial scores.

See Also: Watch: Sanju Samson dismissed for golden duck during IND vs NZ 3rd T20I

IND vs NZ, 3rd T20I: Live Streaming Details 

IND vs NZ, 3rd T20I: Probable Playing XI

India (IND):

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah/Harshit Rana.

New Zealand (NZ):

Tim Seifert (WK), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), Zakary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.

India will take on New Zealand in the second T20I of the five-match series at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on Friday, January 23. The hosts come into the contest brimming with confidence after a dominant showing in the opening game at Nagpur. Batting first, India piled up a massive 238/7, their highest-ever T20I total against New Zealand. Abhishek Sharma starred with a breathtaking 84 off just 35 deliveries, rescuing India after early setbacks. Valuable contributions from Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and a late flourish from Rinku Singh powered the innings.

See Also: 3 Indian batters apart from Shreyas Iyer who could have replaced Tilak Varma in IND vs NZ 2026 T20Is ft. Sarfaraz Khan

Chasing the daunting target, New Zealand endured a nightmare start as Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra were dismissed for a single run between them. Glenn Phillips attempted to anchor the chase with a valiant 78 off 40 balls, but the required run rate quickly spiralled out of control. India’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure through the middle overs, with Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube keeping things tight and picking up key wickets. The visitors were eventually restricted well short of the target, allowing India to clinch a comprehensive 48-run victory and take a 1-0 lead in the series.

IND vs NZ, 2nd T20I: Live Streaming Details

IND vs NZ, 2nd T20I: Probable Playing XI

India (IND):

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

New Zealand (NZ):

Tim Robinson, Devon Conway(WK), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(C), Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy