'Most lethal side ever': India finalise T20 World Cup preparations with 46-run win in 5th T20I against New Zealand

India defeated New Zealand by 46 runs in the fifth and final T20I of the series to complete a dominating 4-1 series win in what was the final assignment for the Men in Blue ahead of the T20 World Cup which starts February 7.

Ishan Kishan fired his maiden T20I century and Arshdeep Singh also found his first T20I five-wicket haul as India stopped New Zealand at 225 after scoring 271/5. A total of 36 sixes, 23 of them by India, were hit in the game, the most in a T20I involving Test-playing teams.

Kishan takes Kiwi bowlers to cleaners

India won the toss and opted to bat first on another flat surface. Sanju Samson's poor form continued and he was dismissed for 6. Abhishek Sharma hit 30 off 16 before losing his wicket. Both the openers were dismissed by Lockie Ferguson (2/41).

Ishan Kishan (103) and Suryakumar Yadav (63) then turned the game around with a partnership of 137 runs in just 57 deliveries. An important knock by Hardik Pandya (42) took India to their third highest total in this format of 271/5.

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Finn Allenn then kept New Zealand in the game with a power-packed 38-ball 80 but once he was dismissed in the ninth over, the Kiwi batting fell apart. Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell and Ish Sodhi managed quick 30s but that was not enough as Indian bowlers kept taking wickets. Arshdeep Singh (5/51) got the most expensive five-wicket haul in T20Is while Axar Patel bowled his four overs for just 33 runs and took three wickets.

The win helps India go into the T20 World Cup on a high. India open their title defence on February 7 against the United States. New Zealand will open their campaign next day against Afghanistan.

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This India T20 team looks like the most lethal side ever assembled. Wud take an out of the world effort to stop them from defending their T20 World Cup title

— Amit (@nottheamit) January 31, 2026

There is insanity, then there is whatever this Indian team is doing. https://t.co/UZ4yCh4Z8B pic.twitter.com/OGooWPml4I

— Sarthak Dev (@devellix) January 31, 2026

Before the T20 World Cup, India’s firepower is BACK! 🔥
Captain Suryakumar Yadav smashed 63 off 30, Ishan Kishan exploded with 103 off 43.
Against mighty New Zealand, India piled up a crazy 271 in 20 overs. Absolute carnage! #indvsnz4tht20 #indvsnz pic.twitter.com/gq2SggBb28

— Hindu Talk (@HinduTalk183898) January 31, 2026

Imagine scoring 225 and still losing by 46 runs. There are levels to this game.

— Sparsh Telang (@_cricketsparsh) January 31, 2026