IND vs NZ: Ishan Kishan becomes only 2nd Indian to bag this historic feat with 43-ball 103

Ishan Kishan tonks blistering ton in Thiruvananthapuram

His return for the series finale was a pivotal moment for the Indian side, especially after he missed the fourth T20I in Visakhapatnam due to a minor niggle. By anchoring a massive 137-run partnership with captain Suryakumar Yadav, Kishan completely shifted the momentum of the game. This commanding display has arguably solidified his spot in India’s playing XI for the 2026 T20 World Cup, particularly as his rival for the spot, Sanju Samson, struggled to make an impact in the same match.

Ishan Kishan emulates Rohit Sharma's mighty feat 

Kishan scripted history with this century, as he joined Rohit Sharma as only the second Indian to score both an ODI double-century and a T20I hundred. Furthermore, he became the seventh Indian player to record a T20I century, entering an elite circle alongside Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and Tilak Varma.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav also hit his stride in the fifth T20I, providing a definitive answer to critics who had questioned his recent form. Heading into this series, concerns about his consistency had sparked debates over his place in the World Cup squad. However, the Mumbai star effectively silenced his detractors by recording his third half-century of the series, smashing 63 runs off just 30 balls at a blistering strike rate of 210 before Mitchell Santner eventually halted his charge.

It was Kishan's lightning 43-ball 103, which was punctuated with 10 sixes and four boundaries, helped India post a massive total of 271/5.