Final result
India Cricket won by 46 runs
Player of the match: Ishan Kishan
Result · T20 Internationals
India Cricket vs New Zealand Cricket
Result · T20 Internationals
Venue par · 148Chase success · 50%POTM · Ishan Kishan
Match preview & overview
India post record T20I total of 271/5 to beat New Zealand by 46 runs in Thiruvananthapuram
India beat New Zealand by 46 runs in the T20I played at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram on 31 January 2026. India won the toss and batted, posting a massive 271/5. Ishan Kishan scored 103 off 43 balls and was named Player of the Match. New Zealand's chase began promisingly, with Finn Allen posting 80 off 38 balls and the powerplay producing 79 runs for 1 wicket, but the middle overs proved fatal: five wickets fell for 92 runs between overs 7 and 15, and Arshdeep Singh's 5/51 ensured the innings folded for 225. The result means India have now won four of their last five T20I encounters against New Zealand in 2026.
The margin of 46 runs flatters New Zealand slightly. Their chase was always compromised by the scale of India's innings. A target of 272 in a T20I is almost unheard of, and at a venue where the average first-innings score is 148 across 20 matches, India's 271/5 placed this fixture in entirely different territory from the outset.
India's innings was built in two distinct phases. The powerplay produced 54 runs for 2 wickets, a reasonable if unspectacular start against a quality New Zealand attack. What followed in the middle overs was extraordinary: 134 runs for 1 wicket from overs 7 to 15, with Kishan driving the acceleration. The death overs added 83 more for 2 wickets, giving India a total New Zealand's bowlers will want to forget quickly.
Pitch report & venue insights
Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram — 20-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2017–2025. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
20
T20 matches hosted
148
Avg 1st-innings score
110
Avg 2nd-innings score
50%
Chase success rate
40
Avg powerplay runs
55%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
India's 271/5 dwarfs venue average by 123 runs
Greenfield International Stadium's average first-innings T20I score across 20 matches is 148. India's 271/5 on 31 January 2026 obliterated that benchmark by 123 runs. The middle overs did the bulk of the damage: 134 runs for just 1 wicket between overs 7 and 15 gave India a platform the Black Caps were never going to overhaul.
Angle 02
Ishan Kishan hits 103 off 43 balls as Player of the Match
Angle 03
Arshdeep Singh takes 5/51 to skittle New Zealand for 225
Angle 04
FH Allen's 80 off 38 a lone New Zealand highlight
Angle 05
India now hold 55-41 head-to-head advantage over 111 T20I meetings
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Top-batter markets in high-scoring T20I fixtures at this venue may carry more variance than usual given how far India's total exceeded the ground's historical average.
- Thiruvananthapuram's average second-innings score of 110 across 20 matches suggests the venue does not typically suit chasers, which could inform how markets are assessed in future fixtures here.
- Five-wicket haul markets for specialist seamers may be worth considering at venues where conditions offer movement; Arshdeep Singh's 5/51 here illustrates that such outcomes remain possible even in high-scoring games.
- In series with a 4-1 recent-form split, outright series markets may offer limited value; individual match-winner and performance markets could carry more editorial interest.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about India Cricket vs New Zealand Cricket
What was the result of the India vs New Zealand T20I on 31 January 2026?
India beat New Zealand by 46 runs at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. India posted 271/5 and New Zealand were bowled out for 225 in reply. Ishan Kishan was named Player of the Match for his 103 off 43 balls.
Who won the toss in the India vs New Zealand T20I?
India won the toss and elected to bat. They put on 271/5, comfortably the highest score this venue has seen in a T20 international, against a ground average first-innings score of 148.
Where to watch India vs New Zealand T20I matches in the UK?
T20I matches between India and New Zealand are typically broadcast in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket, with streaming available via Sky Go and NOW TV. Availability may vary by series, so check your Sky Sports listings ahead of each fixture.
What is the head-to-head record between India and New Zealand in T20Is?
India lead the all-time T20I head-to-head with 55 wins to New Zealand's 41 from 111 completed matches, with 11 no-results. In 2026, India have won four of the last five meetings between the sides.
How did Arshdeep Singh perform in the Thiruvananthapuram T20I?
Arshdeep Singh took 5 wickets for 51 runs from his four overs, making him the most successful bowler in the match. His five-wicket haul helped bowl New Zealand out for 225, completing India's 46-run victory.
What is the typical scoring pattern at Greenfield International Stadium?
Over 20 T20I matches at Greenfield International Stadium, the average first-innings score is 148 and the average second-innings score is 110. The chase success rate stands at 50 per cent. Teams winning the toss have chosen to field on 55 per cent of occasions.
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Photo credits (4)
- Ishan Kishan — photo by Tata Ipl 2022, CC BY 3.0 · source
- Arshdeep Singh — photo by Prime Minister's Office, GODL-India · source
- Virat Kohli — photo by Prime Minister's Office, GODL-India · source
- Shubman Gill — photo by Ajinkyasingh, CC0 · source