Ishan Kishan returned to the playing XI spectacularly, scoring 103 in the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand on January 31. He was magnificent with the bat as India posted 271/5, their third-highest total in the shortest format of the game. The southpaw faced 43 deliveries, including 10 sixes and 6 boundaries, with his runs coming at a strike rate of 239.53.
He scripted a 137-run stand with Suryakumar Yadav for the third wicket. SKY, who was struggling for form before the series, amassed another fifty-plus score.
The right-handed posted 63 runs off 30 deliveries, with the help of 6 sixes and 4 fours. Hardik Pandya didn’t allow the bowlers to dominate after the dismissals of Ishan and Suryakumar and managed 42 in 17 balls, packed with four maximums and 1 four. The Men in Blue hit a record 23 sixes in the game.
Earlier, Sanju Samson once again disappointed with the bat, contributing just 6 runs off 6 balls. Abhishek Sharma showed his attacking approach, scoring 16-ball 30 before Lockie Ferguson sent him back. He smashed 4 fours and 2 sixes.
Rinku Singh (8 off 8) and Shivam Dube (7 off 2) remained unbeaten. Ferguson, playing his first game of the series, took two wickets but conceded 41 runs. Captain Mitchell Santner was hit all parts of the ground, giving away 60 runs in 24 balls while dismissing one batter.
Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy, who went over 50-plus runs, added one scalp to their bowling figures.