Arshdeep Singh delivered a match-winning spell in the high-scoring fifth and final T20I between India and New Zealand at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday (January 31).

Opting to bat first, the hosts racked up a gigantic 271/5 in 20 overs on the back of Ishan Kishan’s maiden T20I hundred (103 off 43 balls). Kishan's knock, which came at a strike rate of nearly 240, was laced with six fours and 10 sixes. Suryakumar Yadav smashed 63 off 30 balls, while Hardik Pandya returned with 42 off 17.

Chasing the target, the Back Caps fought in pockets but finished with 225 all-out in 19.4 overs. Finn Allen was the top scorer with 80 off 38 balls.

Arshdeep was the pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming five wickets by conceding 51 runs in his four overs. Following the match, the left-arm quick revealed that staying in the present helped him after going for too many runs in recent fixtures.  

“Yep, it was a great learning for me as well - to stay in the game and not think about what happened in the past or in the first spell. That was the message from the coaching staff. I just wanted to stay in the present and do what was right in front of me,” Arshdeep said at the post-match presentation.

“It’s just for the camera that I look calm - I’m definitely feeling the pressure as well. Lately, I’ve been going for quite a few runs, so I’m just trying to work that out with Morne and give my best for the team. I enjoyed some of the shots Finn played. But yes, I guess we could have planned a little better according to the wicket. Chasing 250-plus, they were always going to come hard. We could have executed a bit better, but the plan was to stay in the present and just enjoy it,” he added.

Arshdeep also opened up about skipper Suryakumar’s message during the team huddle after powerplay

“There’s no secret there. The talk was about body language - about giving it our all and giving ourselves the best chance to restrict them to around 180 or 190. They played really well and scored a lot of runs, but we’re happy to be on the winning side,” he stated.

With the T20 World Cup 2026 around the corner, Arshdeep Singh said the defending champions know where they stand before the showpiece tournament.

“Yes, pretty happy with everyone performing well individually. But a perfect team game hasn’t come yet - we haven’t clicked in all departments at the same time. That’s a good sign too, because hopefully in the World Cup, all three phases of the game can come together and we can have a perfect game,” he concluded.

The Men in Blue will begin their T20 World Cup campaign on February 7 against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium.