Clinical India pass final test before T20 World Cup with flying colours
In tune-up to the T20 World Cup 2026, India beat New Zealand by 46 runs in the fifth and final T20I on Saturday to seal the series 4-1.
New Delhi: In the tune-up to the T20 World Cup 2026, India beat New Zealand by 46 runs in the fifth and final T20I on Saturday to seal the series 4-1. Clinical India were right on the mark in all the departments as they passed the last test before the T20 World Cup 2026, which starts in a weeks time, with flying colours.
In a high-scoring contest which saw as many as 496 runs being scored, New Zealand didn't prove that bad during the chase but the Men in Blue had the last laugh with a thumping win. Batting first, Ishan Kishan's maiden T20I century (103), skipper Suryakumar Yadav's record fifty (63) and brilliant effort from Hardik Pandya (42) and Abhishek Sharma (30) saw the hosts score their third-highest T20I total of 271/5 in the stipulated 20 overs.
India's batting proved to be pitch perfect barring another failure encountered by local boy Sanju Samson (6 off 6) who's bad patch continued in his fifth consecutive game. Kiwi bowlers picked up five Indian wickets but it was not enough to stop the carnage at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
NZ come close but fall short
Chasing a huge target of 272, New Zealand (225) came close with efforts from Fin Allen (80), Rachin Ravindra (30) and Ish Sodhi (33) but it was not enough for them to cross the line. For India, Arshdeep Singh claimed his maiden fifer (5/51), though proving to be a bit expensive while Axar Patel claimed three important wickets to stop the Kiwis in a tough chase.
Varun Chakaravarthy and Rinku Singh also claimed a wicket apiece. Skipper Suryakumar was named the Player of the Series while Ishan was named the Player of the Match.
A look at some of the records scripted during the match
Most sixes in a T20I
41 Bulgaria vs Gibraltar Sofia 2025
36 Ind vs NZ Trivandrum 2026
*35 WI vs SA Centurion 2023
34 WI vs Eng St George’s 2023
Highest match aggregate in a T20I
517 WI vs SA Centurion 2023
496 Ind vs NZ Trivandrum 2026
*489 WI vs Ind Lauderhill 2016
Most expensive 5-fers in T20Is
5/51 Arshdeep Singh vs NZ Trivandrum 2026
5/40 Alzarri Joseph vs SA Joburg 2023
5/39 Lungi Ngidi vs Eng Bristol 2022