Ishan Kishan’s Explosive 103 and Arshdeep’s Fifer Seal India’s 46-Run T20I Rout of New Zealand

Ishan Kishan’s maiden T20I century (103 off 43 balls, 6 fours, 10 sixes) overshadowed Sanju Samson’s 6-run flop as India hammered 271/5 – their 5th-highest T20I total vs a Test nation – before Arshdeep Singh’s career-best 5/51 restricted New Zealand to 225/10 for a commanding 46-run victory in the 5th T20I at Thiruvananthapuram.

Kishan’s blitz turns disappointment to delirium

Samson’s homecoming fizzled with an early edge to deep backward point off Lockie Ferguson, silencing the roaring Trivandrum crowd after Suryakumar Yadav’s hype at toss.

Abhishek Sharma (30 off 16) added 48 with Kishan before holing out.

Kishan and Suryakumar (63 off 30, 4 fours, 6 sixes) piled 137 in 10.2 overs; 29-run 12th over vs Ish Sodhi (4,4,4,6,4,6) iconic.

Hardik Pandya (42* off 17, 3 sixes) and Shivam Dube (9* off 2, 1 six) blasted past 250 – 189/1 in last 11 overs at 17.18 RPO.

Kishan’s 2nd fifty came in 14 balls; celebrated with Pandya hug after 100 off 42.

Arshdeep’s redemption fifer crushes Kiwi fightback

Arshdeep leaked 40 in first two overs (Finn Allen 80 off 38 assault), but roared back with 4/11 in next three.

Axar Patel (3/33) and Varun Chakravarthy (1/36) choked middle overs.

Glenn Phillips (81 off 35, 9 sixes) and Rachin Ravindra (61 off 31) mounted 100-run stand, but wickets tumbled post-Powerplay.

India’s 69 series sixes (record, beating ENG 64) and 23 in innings (joint-most conceded) defined the romp.

Match Scorecard Highlights

Series sweep perfect World Cup prep

India’s 5-0 whitewash caps flawless prep for defending T20 World Cup title starting February 7 vs USA.

Samson’s series: 10,6,0,24,6 (46 runs) – World Cup spot in jeopardy.

Kishan: 76 & 103 – audition aced.

271/5: 5th highest vs Test nation (behind 297/6 vs BAN).