NZ vs IND 5th T20I 2026 LIVE Updates: New Zealand opt to bowl

India posted 191/8 in 20 overs against New Zealand, with Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer delivering the standout performances with the bat. Kishan scored 61 off 32 balls, including five fours and five sixes, while Iyer contributed 50 off just 23 deliveries, hitting three fours and four sixes.

Kishan provided a major contribution to India's total with an aggressive innings at a strike rate of 190.62. Iyer was even more explosive, scoring at a strike rate of 217.39 before being dismissed by Nathan Smith, with Tim Seifert taking the catch.

Naman Dhir added valuable runs in the middle order, scoring 33 off 23 balls, including four boundaries and one six. Nitish Kumar Reddy contributed 22 off 17 deliveries, striking two fours and one six, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar made six off four balls.

India's innings got off to a difficult start as Sanju Samson scored four off 10 deliveries before being caught by Michael Bracewell off Adam Milne. Abhishek Sharma followed for one off two balls, caught by Daryl Mitchell off the same bowler.

Tilak Varma scored six off eight deliveries before Nathan Smith dismissed him through a caught-and-bowled effort. Smith also removed Iyer and finished with two wickets, conceding 28 runs in three overs, including one no-ball.

New Zealand's most successful bowler was Adam Milne, who claimed four wickets for 19 runs in his four overs. Blair Tickner took two wickets for 38 runs, while Nathan Smith also finished with two wickets. Jacob Duffy conceded 27 runs in three overs without taking a wicket.

India collected seven runs through extras, including one bye, one leg-bye, four wides and one no-ball. Prince Yadav remained unbeaten on zero off one ball, while Arshdeep Singh was not out on one off one delivery. Varun Chakravarthy was listed as yet to bat.

India's total of 191/8 was built around the attacking contributions of Kishan and Iyer, supported by useful middle-order runs from Dhir and Reddy. Milne's four-wicket spell was New Zealand's most effective bowling performance in the innings.

Nitish Kumar Reddy departs as Glenn Phillips takes an easy catch at deep mid-wicket off Adam Milne. Reddy fails to get underneath the delivery while attempting a flick, and the mistimed shot goes straight to Phillips.

India are 185/7 after 19.2 overs, scoring at 9.57 runs per over.

Naman Dhir departs for 33 off 23 balls after Michael Bracewell takes a fine catch at extra-cover off Blair Tickner. Bracewell runs backwards and dives forward to complete the catch with both hands. Tickner celebrates the breakthrough by pulling out a card featuring a fire icon.

India have hit 400 sixes in 40 T20Is in 2026, becoming the first team to reach the milestone. Of those, 142 sixes have come against New Zealand, the most India have hit against any single opponent in a calendar year.

Our Correspondent Baber Nafice, india should look to score 45 more runs from 17 runs 

Tilak Varma departs for 6 off 8 balls as Nathan Smith takes a caught-and-bowled dismissal. After being reprieved by a no-ball earlier, Smith gets his man this time and cheekily asks the umpire to check his front foot. The delivery is legal, and Tilak’s innings comes to an end.

Shreyas Iyer survives after Blair Tickner drops a straightforward catch at short fine leg, adding to New Zealand’s fielding woes as Michael Bracewell reacts in disbelief.