India’s Ishan Kishan (PTI Photo)

Thiruvananthapuram: Ishan Kishan’s blistering 42-ball century was the heartbeat of India’s mammoth 271/5 at the Greenfield Stadium on Saturday, transforming what might have been a competitive total into a match-winning one. On the smallest playing area of the series, and on a pitch dry on top yet tacky underneath, India’s innings was a masterclass in timing, power, and ruthless intent. In pursuit, New Zealand were bundled out for 225, with only Finn Allen’s 80 off 38 offering any semblance of resistance. The 46-run victory capped a dominant 4–1 series triumph for India.

The partisan Thiruvananthapuram crowd had come expecting fireworks from local hero Sanju Samson, but it was Kishan who stole the show. Lockie Ferguson, making his international comeback after 2024 for New Zealand, supplied the only early sting with genuine pace and bounce, removing both Samson and Abhishek Sharma. Abhishek’s 30 off 16 set the tone with brisk aggression, but Samson’s six-ball six ended in silent disappointment — a forlorn walk off the field greeted by a deafening silence from the home fans. Kishan, returning from a niggle, started measured and non-fussy, letting the pitch and outfield settle beneath him. Once in rhythm, he unleashed sheer carnage. Partnering captain Suryakumar Yadav, who carved 63 off 30 with effortless elegance, India torpedoed from 100 to 200 in just 5.2 overs, the duo adding a 137-run stand for the third wicket. Kishan’s ruthlessness was particularly brutal against leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, whom he hammered for 29 runs in a single over. The defining moment came in the 17th over against New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner: two consecutive sixes brought up Kishan’s century, immediately celebrated with a bear hug from Hardik Pandya at the non-striker’s end. Ten sixes and six fours punctuated a knock of explosive efficiency, power, and timing in perfect harmony. Even after Kishan and Suryakumar departed, the carnage continued. Hardik Pandya bludgeoned 42 off 17, while Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube closed the innings with flair. The Kiwi chase began in flames. Tim Seifert fell for 5 in the first over to Arshdeep Singh, and though Finn Allen — the Big Bash run-topper with 466 runs at a 184.2 strike rate — played a scintillating 80 off 38, wickets at key moments slowed the momentum. By 10 overs, New Zealand were 131/2, needing 141 from the remaining 10 overs — a near-impossible ask. The visitors surged to 166 by 14 overs, but from there, the asking rate ballooned to alarming proportions. The wrecker-in-chief during this phase was Arshdeep, who bore the brunt of Finn’s early assault before returning to remove Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, and Kyle Jamieson, finishing with figures of 5/51 from four incisive overs. “Great learning for me to stay in the game. That was the message from the coaching staff. Lately, I’ve been going for runs consistently, I’m trying to stay in the game with Morne Morkel’s help,” Arshdeep said after the game. Beyond the numbers, the match carried a subtle T20 World Cup subtext: Kishan taking over wicketkeeping duties from Samson signals India’s intent to finalise combinations for the showpiece event starting next week.