Ishan Kishan hit his maiden T20 international century and Arshdeep Singh took five wickets as India thrashed New Zealand by 46 runs to seal the series 4-1 on Saturday.
Kishan struck 103 off 43 balls as India posted 271-5 in Thiruvananthapuram after they elected to bat first in their final game ahead of the T20 World Cup starting next weekend.
India, who are No 1 in the T20 rankings, bowled out New Zealand for 225 despite a 38-ball 80 by opener Finn Allen.
India will begin their T20 World Cup title defence next Saturday when they play the United States in Mumbai.
"I've done well and I'm getting these awards, but my focus is firmly on the World Cup," player of the match Kishan said.
"That's where the extra effort is needed. What's important is carrying this form forward and continuing to contribute there."
𝗪.𝗜.𝗡.𝗡.𝗘.𝗥.𝗦 🏆#TeamIndia win the @IDFCFIRSTBank T20I series 4⃣-1⃣ 👏👏
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 31, 2026
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/AwZfWUTBGi#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/4wCu4e6pPI
Left-arm quick Arshdeep picked up his first five-wicket haul in T20 matches for India, taking 5-51. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel took three wickets.
Arshdeep went for 40 runs and took one wicket in his first two overs but later gained his revenge.
Allen and Rachin Ravindra put on 100 runs for the second wicket before the wheels soon came off for New Zealand as Allen departed.
Arshdeep made further inroads with two wickets in an over including Ravindra, for 30, and skipper Mitchell Santner, for a duck.
FIFER for Arshdeep Singh! 🫡
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 31, 2026
Terrific spell from the #TeamIndia pacer 👏👏
New Zealand lose their 8th wicket
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Thau28CPuZ#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/gTkx3Eeip0
Ish Sodhi hit a valiant 33 off 15 balls before he fell as the last wicket with New Zealand bowled out in 19.4 overs.
Earlier, India lost local boy Sanju Samson for six before Kishan took matters into his own hands in a 137-run third-wicket partnership with skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who hit 63.
Kishan took on legspinner Sodhi as he blasted four fours and two sixes in a 29-run 12th over. Suryakumar then reached his third fifty of the series with two successive sixes.
Suryakumar was named player of the series for his 242 runs in the five matches.
"As a bowling unit, we've got to find ways against very good batters - guys who deal in boundaries and sixes," Santner said about the improvements for the World Cup.
"Maybe it's about turning those big overs into 15 or 16, especially on flat pitches, knowing that even 230 can be chaseable."
Spinner Santner took down his opposite number when he had Suryakumar stumped, but Kishan raised his hundred off 42 balls with a six, jumping for joy as he soaked up the applause from the fans and dressing room.
That Maiden T20I Century feeling ❤️#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/Gmp9RdjfET
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 31, 2026
Kishan had been dropped by Glenn Phillips in the deep on 84, and eventually fell to Jacob Duffy – ending a knock featuring six fours and 10 sixes.
Hardik Pandya kept up the charge though with a 17-ball 42 as India hammered 169 runs off the last 10 overs.