Ishan Kishan made a strong comeback to the playing XI, scoring 103 runs in the fifth T20I against New Zealand on January 31. His performance helped India reach a total of 271/5, marking their third-highest score in T20 matches. Kishan faced 43 balls, hitting 10 sixes and 6 fours, with a strike rate of 239.53.
Kishan formed a crucial 137-run partnership with Suryakumar Yadav for the third wicket. Yadav, who had been struggling before this series, also scored well, making 63 runs from 30 balls with 6 sixes and 4 fours. Hardik Pandya kept the momentum going after the fall of Kishan and Yadav, scoring 42 runs off 17 balls, which included 4 sixes and 1 four. The Indian team set a record with 23 sixes in the match.
Earlier, Sanju Samson had a rough outing, scoring only 6 runs from 6 balls. Abhishek Sharma started aggressively, scoring 30 runs off 16 balls before being dismissed by Lockie Ferguson, hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes.
Rinku Singh (8 off 8) and Shivam Dube (7 off 2) remained not out. Ferguson, in his first match of the series, took two wickets but gave away 41 runs. Captain Mitchell Santner struggled, conceding 60 runs in 24 balls while taking one wicket.
Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy, who each allowed over 50 runs, managed to take one wicket each.
