Rinku Singh Wicket vs New Zealand 5th T20I Ends Game - India Seal Series 4-1
Rinku Singh: The New Golden Arm? Final Wicket Shocker in Trivandrum
In a match defined by records and raw power, the loudest cheer at the Greenfield International Stadium wasn’t for a six—it was for a wicket. As the clock struck 10:30 PM today (January 31, 2026), the Rinku Singh Wicket vs New Zealand 5th T20I moment officially turned the “finisher” into a genuine all-rounder.
Brought on for the final over by Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku needed just four balls to dismiss a rampaging Ish Sodhi, bundling the Kiwis out for 225 and securing a massive 46-run victory for India.
Unpopular fact -
— 𝑨𝑻10 (@Loyalsachfan10) January 31, 2026
Rinku Singh the bowler is better than Saim Ayub the player#INDvsNZ pic.twitter.com/fyNanrpqrl
Match Summary
Ind vs NZ 5th T20: India vs New Zealand
5th T20I • New Zealand tour of India 2026 • Thiruvananthapuram
The Ind vs NZ 5th T20 unfolded as a contest of extremes — India’s explosive batting against New Zealand’s fearless but flawed chase. After early wickets, India shifted gears dramatically through a stunning middle-overs assault, leaving the visitors chasing an almost impossible target. New Zealand briefly threatened through Finn Allen’s powerplay onslaught, but regular wickets halted any sustained momentum. India’s bowlers regrouped impressively after early punishment, squeezing the middle overs and cleaning up the tail efficiently. In the end, the 46-run margin reflected India’s sustained control across both innings and underlined their dominance throughout the series.
Playing XI
India
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand
Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy
The Home-Town Heartbreak for Sanju Samson
Trivandrum was ready for a Sanju Samson show. Instead, they got a “home-town curse” masterclass. Despite India scoring a mammoth 271, Samson could only manage 6 runs off 6 balls before falling to Lockie Ferguson. While the rest of the team celebrated a 4-1 win, the local hero’s World Cup spot now looks more vulnerable than ever.
Why Rinku Bowled the 20th?
With 47 needed off the last over, Suryakumar Yadav could have gone to a part-timer or even a main bowler to finish it. By choosing Rinku, SKY sent a message to the selectors: Rinku Singh is no longer just a “hitter.” He is being groomed as the “sixth-bowling option” India desperately needs for the 2026 World Cup.
As India heads into the T20 World Cup 2026 next week, the primary takeaway isn’t just the 271 runs. It is the versatility of a squad where your best finisher can also be your match-ending bowler. The Rinku Singh Wicket vs New Zealand 5th T20I might just be the most significant delivery of the entire series.
Innings Breakdown
First Innings: India 271/5, A Batting Avalanche
The Ind vs NZ 5th T20 first innings began with promise but quickly turned brutal for New Zealand. Abhishek Sharma provided early momentum before both openers fell inside the powerplay, briefly offering hope. What followed was absolute carnage. Ishan Kishan launched a relentless counterattack while Suryakumar Yadav played the perfect foil, rotating strike before exploding at will. Their 137-run partnership dismantled New Zealand’s bowling plans entirely. Kishan’s 42-ball century redefined aggression, while Hardik Pandya’s late cameo ensured India crossed the 270 mark. The final tally of 271 for 5 was India’s highest-ever T20I score against New Zealand.
Second Innings: Allen Fights, India Finish Strong
Chasing 272 in the Ind vs NZ 5th T20, New Zealand needed a miracle and Finn Allen nearly provided belief with a ferocious powerplay assault. His 80 off 38 balls powered New Zealand to one of their fastest hundreds against India and briefly tilted momentum. However, once Allen fell, the chase unraveled quickly. India struck at regular intervals, never allowing partnerships to settle. Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy slowed the scoring before Arshdeep Singh ran through the lower order. Despite late resistance from Daryl Mitchell and Ish Sodhi, New Zealand were bowled out for 225, falling 46 runs short in a chase that promised fireworks but lacked durability.
Top Performances
Ishan Kishan - Player of the Match
Returning to the XI after a niggle, Ishan Kishan smashed a 42-ball 103, proving that the competition for the opening slot is far from over. His strike rate of 239.53 is now the highest for an Indian centurion against New Zealand.
Suryakumar Yadav - Player of the Series
To cap off a dominant 4-1 series victory, Suryakumar Yadav was rightfully crowned the Player of the Series after leading from the front with both the bat and his captaincy. In a blistering display of his trademark 360-degree strokeplay, SKY amassed 242 runs across five matches at a staggering average of 80.66 and an elite strike rate of 196.74.
The series finale in Thiruvananthapuram provided the ultimate highlight: during his whirlwind 63 off 30 balls, Suryakumar became the fastest player in history to reach 3,000 T20I runs, achieving the feat in just 1,822 balls—shattering the previous record held by Muhammad Waseem (1,947 balls) and the benchmarks set by legends like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. This performance doesn’t just secure his legacy as India’s premier T20 weapon; it sends a thunderous warning to the rest of the world just seven days before the T20 World Cup 2026 begins.
Arshdeep's "Jekyll & Hyde" Spell
Arshdeep Singh finished with a 5-wicket haul (5/51), but look at the breakdown: he conceded 40 runs in his first two overs. His “death-over” redemption—taking 4 wickets for just 11 runs in his final two spells—is what actually saved the game after Finn Allen’s (80 off 38) initial assault.
The Rinku Singh Bowling Masterclass
Rinku wasn’t just “given an over.” He was brought on to exploit Sodhi’s struggle against the slower, loopy off-break. After being hit for a six on his second ball, Rinku showed his “ice-cool” temperament, pulling his length back and forcing a slice that was safely caught by Arshdeep Singh. Rinku Singh’s bowling average in this series? A tidy 13.00.
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