India vs New Zealand 5th T20I Live: Ishan Kishan is on fire, smashing an unbeaten 65 off just 31 balls, while Suryakumar Yadav has 29* from 17. The scoreboard’s racing—India already at 131/2 in 11.4 overs, scoring at over 11 an over. Kishan’s peppered the ropes with five fours and five sixes, and Suryakumar looks just as comfortable, stroking a couple of boundaries and clearing the fence twice himself. New Zealand’s bowlers are under the pump—just ask Ish Sodhi, who’s been hammered for 38 in less than three overs. India’s 83-run partnership for the third wicket (off just 40 balls!) has completely flipped the game after a bumpy start. They’re on track for a massive total—think 210 or even 220-plus. Right now, India’s got the win in their sights.
Earlier, Suryakumar won the toss and didn’t hesitate—he wanted his team to bat first at Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The pitch looked balanced: some bounce for the quicks up top, grip for the spinners as things wear on, and maybe a bit of dew to help whoever chases. Even so, India’s batting depth means they’re aiming big. A total over 220? That’s a match-winner.
India already leads the series 3-1, dominating the first three matches—winning by 48 runs, then cruising home by 7 wickets with 28 balls left, and then again by 8 wickets with 60 balls to spare. But New Zealand punched back hard in the fourth T20I, winning by 50 runs after piling up 215. That’s given this finale some real bite. For New Zealand, it’s about pride and maybe clawing back a 3-2 scoreline; for India, a 4-1 win would send a message ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Here’s how the match has played out so far:
Powerplay (Overs 1-6): Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson came out swinging. Abhishek blitzed 30 off 16, peppering the boundary. Samson? Not so much—he struggled yet again, out cheaply, and his opening experiment isn’t working. Both openers back in the hut inside six overs, but India had already racked up nearly 50 runs.
Middle Overs (7-11+): That’s when Kishan and Suryakumar took over. Kishan, promoted up the order, wasted no time—cover drives, sixes over extra cover, you name it. SKY looked just as good, launching his signature on-drives and clearing the ropes. Between overs 9 and 11, India hammered 43 runs—just relentless. Kishan brought up his fifty in just 28 balls, and India crossed 100 before the 10th over. New Zealand’s bowlers had no answers—Sodhi and Jamieson leaked runs, Ferguson got a breakthrough but paid for it, and Santner, solid early on, got hit too.
India’s gameplan is obvious: attack from ball one, don’t let up after wickets, and keep the foot on the gas in the middle overs. With the way they’re going, anything over 200 looks likely, and with Bumrah and Arshdeep waiting to bowl at the death, they’ll back themselves to defend it.
Kishan and SKY’s stand—83 off 40 balls—has lit up the stadium. India’s already racked up 12 fours and 9 sixes, and extras are barely a factor.
Looking back at the series:
ODI Leg (New Zealand won 2-1):
1st ODI: India chased down 301, winning by 4 wickets.
2nd ODI: New Zealand chased 285, won by 7 wickets.
3rd ODI: New Zealand piled up 337, bowled India out for 296, winning by 41.
T20I Leg (India leads 3-1):
1st T20I: India smashed 238, bowled out NZ for 190—Abhishek Sharma starred.
2nd: India chased down 209 in just over 15 overs, winning easily.
3rd: India made light work of a 154 target, chasing it in 10 overs—clinical stuff.
4th: New Zealand finally hit back—Tim Seifert’s 62, Santner’s 3-for, and Dube’s fireworks for India (65 off 23) weren’t enough. NZ won by 50 runs, ending their losing streak.
India’s T20 success this series? Explosive batting from guys like Abhishek, SKY, and Dube, plus sharp death bowling. New Zealand’s best moment came in the fourth game—deeper batting and clever spin from Santner.
Standout Players So Far:
- Ishan Kishan has made a statement tonight—his unbeaten 65* could reignite his middle-order hopes for the T20 World Cup.
- Suryakumar Yadav? He’s been everywhere—anchoring, accelerating, and leading smartly.
- Abhishek Sharma has been brutal in the powerplay, even if he’s still learning against top-class bowling.
- Sanju Samson’s struggles continue, though—his place as opener hangs in the balance.
- Shivam Dube’s 65 in the fourth T20I was pure muscle—one for the highlight reel.
- For New Zealand, Tim Seifert brings aggression at the top, Santner’s spin keeps things interesting, and Lockie Ferguson’s pace is always a threat. Sodhi can be expensive, but he’s never dull, and Jamieson’s bounce always makes him a handful.
So, with India flying and a big finish on the cards, this series finale is serving up everything a cricket fan could want—big runs, momentum swings, and a few World Cup hints along the way.