Kishan’s 42-Ball Century, Suryakumar’s Flair Power India to Massive 271/5 Against New Zealand

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 2026 : Ishan Kishan produced one of the most explosive batting performances in T20 international history, smashing a breathtaking 42-ball century, as India piled up a colossal 271 for 5 against New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium on Saturday. Captain Suryakumar Yadav played the perfect supporting role with a stylish 63, while Hardik Pandya’s late onslaught ensured India finished with their third-highest total in the format.

India’s innings was a six-hitting spectacle, featuring 23 sixes—joint most by the team in a T20I match. Despite losing two early wickets inside the powerplay, the hosts turned the contest on its head through a dominant 137-run partnership between Kishan and Suryakumar that completely dismantled the New Zealand bowling attack and left the visitors searching for answers.

Electing to bat first, India began positively with Abhishek Sharma setting the tempo in the opening overs. He timed the ball sweetly, dispatching Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson to the boundary to race to 24 off just nine deliveries. However, the early momentum was briefly checked when local favourite Sanju Samson’s struggles continued. Samson departed for six, edging Lockie Ferguson to deep third man, a dismissal that momentarily silenced the home crowd.

Abhishek continued to look dangerous but was eventually undone by Ferguson’s extra pace, being bowled for a brisk 30 off 16 balls. At 48 for 2 in the fifth over, India were in need of a stabilising yet aggressive response—and Ishan Kishan delivered exactly that.

Kishan counter-attacked from the outset, taking calculated risks and immediately putting the New Zealand bowlers under pressure. He found an ideal partner in Suryakumar Yadav, whose innovative stroke play and effortless timing ensured the run rate never dipped. The duo first rebuilt and then went on a full-scale assault, shifting gears seamlessly.

The turning point came in the 10th over, when Mitchell Santner was taken apart for 20 runs through a flurry of boundaries and towering sixes. Kishan, particularly severe on the leg side, began peppering the stands with clean strikes, while Suryakumar dazzled with his trademark scoops, ramps, and inside-out shots.

Kishan brought up his half-century off just 28 balls in emphatic fashion, hammering Ish Sodhi for three fours and two sixes in a single over that yielded 29 runs. At the other end, Suryakumar continued his rich vein of form, reaching his third fifty of the series off only 27 balls, including three sixes off Jacob Duffy in the 14th over.

Santner finally managed to break the partnership by stumping Suryakumar for a superb 63 off 30 balls, but the damage had already been done. Kishan, unfazed by the loss of his partner, pressed on with even greater intent. He took on Santner again, launching him for successive sixes off different lengths to race into the nineties.

Moments later, Kishan reached his maiden T20I century in sensational style—off just 42 balls—celebrating the milestone with visible emotion as Hardik Pandya leapt in to congratulate him. Kishan’s knock eventually ended at 103 off 43 deliveries, studded with six fours and an astonishing ten sixes, at a strike rate of 239.53.

Hardik then provided the finishing touches with a blistering cameo of 42 off 17 balls, while Shivam Dube struck a six off the final delivery as 21 runs came from the last over. India’s relentless batting display propelled them beyond the 270 mark, underlining their dominance and depth.

With the Men’s T20 World Cup opener against the USA scheduled next week at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Kishan’s explosive century may well have sealed his place in India’s playing eleven.

Brief Scores:
India 271/5 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 103, Suryakumar Yadav 63; Lockie Ferguson 2/41, Jacob Duffy 1/53) vs New Zealand

Team Maverick.

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