Kishan slammed 103 off 43 balls with 6 fours and 10 sixes in the series finale.
Batting at No. 3, the southpaw took the Kiwi bowling attack to the cleaners, smashing 103 off just 43 balls. His maiden T20I hundred was studded with 6 fours and 10 sixes.
Kishan was involved in a 137-run partnership for the third wicket with skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who scored 63 off 30 balls with 4 fours and 6 sixes. All-rounder Hardik Pandya provided the finishing touch to the innings, smashing 42 off 17 balls (1 four and 4 sixes) to propel the hosts to a gigantic 271/5 in 20 overs.
During the chase, the Back Caps fought in pockets but their innings eventually folded for 225 in 19.4 overs.
After scripting India’s 4-1 series victory, Ishan Kishan reflected on his whirlwind knock, stating that he just aimed to watch the ball and play accordingly.
“Honestly, not much. I felt the ball was doing a bit early on, but batting alongside Abhishek Sharma really helps. You see his intent, you understand the momentum the team needs, and then you just try to watch the ball and play accordingly. That approach worked well for me today," Kishan said at the post-match presentation.
Talking about his mindset, the swashbuckling left-hander said that the plan is always to go for runs, even when approaching personal milestones.
“I think that’s the mindset of everyone in our team now. Even if you’re close to a milestone, it doesn’t really matter. If you start taking singles at that stage, you might feel later that you missed an opportunity to go big. So if the ball is there to hit, you have to go for it. The focus is on winning matches, not personal milestones," he added.
When asked if he is satisfied with his performance, Ishan stated that he is not yet at his absolute best and his focus is on the World Cup.
“I still feel I’m not there yet. Yes, I’ve done well and I’m getting these awards, but my focus is firmly on the World Cup. That’s where the extra effort is needed. What’s important is carrying this form forward and continuing to contribute there," he concluded.
India will begin their T20 World Cup title defence on February 7 against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium. They have been drawn in Group A along with the USA, Pakistan, the Netherlands and Namibia.