The final showdown of the high-octane T20I series between India and New Zealand at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, on January 31, 2026, was more than just a dead rubber. While India had already secured the series, the atmosphere in Kerala was electric as local hero Sanju Samson took the field. However, a tactical shift during the second innings, seeing Ishan Kishan don the gloves instead of Samson has sent social media into a frenzy and sparked intense speculation regarding India’s preferred stumper for the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup.
Suryakumar Yadav explains why Ishan Kishan was keeping wickets during 5th T20I
Addressing the post-match press conference, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav was quick to clear the air. He revealed that the decision was far from a last-minute reaction to Samson’s recent form or Kishan’s blistering century. According to the captain, the team management had already ironed out a specific rotation policy before the series began.
The presence of both Kishan and Samson in the XI was necessitated by the absence of Tilak Varma, who is currently recovering from surgery. This gave the management a unique opportunity to test both keepers in match conditions. Suryakumar explained that the plan was to divide the five-match series systematically: Samson was designated to keep for the first three games, while Kishan was slated for the final two.
“So, we had decided before the series that three games will be kept by Sanju Samson and two games will be kept by Ishan. Ishan unfortunately missed the last game because of a niggle but he was anyway going to keep wickets in this match,,” Suryakumar stated in the post-match presentation.
He further noted that although Kishan missed the fourth T20I due to a minor niggle, he was always the designated keeper for the Thiruvananthapuram finale. While the explanation was grounded in logistics, fans and pundits couldn’t help but notice the timing. With India’s World Cup opener against the USA scheduled for February 7, giving Kishan match practice behind the stumps suggests he might be the frontrunner for the primary wicketkeeping role.
Ishan Kishan’s century blitz powers India to 4-1 series victory over New Zealand
If his glovework was a point of discussion, Kishan’s batting was a statement of absolute authority. On a surface that rewarded brave stroke-play, Kishan looked in a different league, smashing his maiden T20I century. His breathtaking 103 off just 43 balls was a masterclass in modern T20 power-hitting, featuring 6 boundaries and a staggering 10 sixes.
Kishan’s aggression at the top, combined with a signature 63 from 30 balls by Suryakumar and a late-inning flourish from Hardik Pandya (42 off 17), propelled India to a mammoth 271/5. This total stands as India’s third-highest in T20I history, leaving the New Zealand bowlers with nowhere to hide.
Despite a valiant effort from the Kiwis’ Finn Allen, who struck a rapid 80, India’s bowling unit was relentless. Arshdeep Singh delivered a career-best performance, claiming a five-wicket haul (5/51), while Axar Patel’s 3/33 ensured the Black Caps were bundled out for 225. The 46-run victory not only handed India a 4-1 series win but also confirmed that the “Men in Blue” are heading into the T20 World Cup 2026 with their engines firing on all cylinders.
