Ishan Kishan announced his return to the big stage in emphatic fashion with a blistering maiden T20I century in the fifth T20I against New Zealand, sending a strong message to the selectors ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter, who had made a comeback to the Indian squad for the home series, made full use of his opportunity with a breathtaking display of power-hitting that lit up the stadium.
Kishan’s innings was a perfect example of modern T20 batting. He took the New Zealand bowlers apart, hammering 29 runs in a single over off Ish Sodhi and scoring a staggering 84 of his runs in boundaries. His knock featured 10 towering sixes and four crisp fours, underlining his ability to dominate spin and pace alike. The aggression, intent and clarity in his shot selection stood out, especially in a high-pressure game with World Cup spots up for grabs.
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After bringing up the landmark hundred, an emotional Kishan was seen celebrating with Hardik Pandya in the middle, a moment that captured the significance of his comeback journey. Having been dropped from the national side in the past, the 26-year-old’s response has been nothing short of impressive.
An ISHANDAAR Blockbuster! 🙌
✅ 1st T20I century
✅ 1000 runs in T20Is
✅ 6000 runs in T20s
✅ 10 sixes in the innings #IshanKishan with a statement knock just 7 days before the ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup begins! 🤩#INDvNZ 5th T20I 👉 LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/7DIDSDu12k pic.twitter.com/c3n77mmcR1— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 31, 2026
Originally included as cover for Sanju Samson, Kishan has now pushed himself firmly into contention for a starting spot in India’s T20 World Cup XI. With Samson struggling for runs and Kishan peaking at the right time, the battle for places has just become a lot more interesting.
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New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner(c), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy
India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan(w), Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
