Ishan Kishan continued his golden run since his return to Team India when he smashed his first T20I century in the fifth match against New Zealand on Saturday, January 31 at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Kishan needed just 42 balls to reach the milestone and got there with back-to-back sixes from Mitchell Santner.
The southpaw hit six fours and ten sixes during his swashbuckling innings that turned the New Zealand fielders into mere spectators. It was Kishan’s statement in the T20I final in India ahead of the 2026 World Cup, a performance that all but confirmed his place in the marquee playing eleven.
IND vs NZ 5th T20I Update
Kishan walked out to bat in the powerplay after local boy Sanju Samson left his fans disappointed as he was dismissed cheaply for 6 (6). He took four deliveries to get off the mark before smashing his first boundary off the fifth ball against Lockie Ferguson and following it up with a maximum.
Kishan then launched a ferocious onslaught against Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner in the middle overs, treating the Kiwi spinners with utter contempt. He brought up his eighth half-century from just 28 deliveries and obliterated Sodhi in particular, who was hammered for six boundaries – four fours and two sixes – in his third over.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
January 31, 2026
