Ishan Kishan’s blitz powers India to 4-1 series Win in final T20I , but bowling woes raise World Cup concerns

 

With the T20 World Cup just around the corner, Indian fans are once again dreaming of glory on home soil. The five-match T20I series against New Zealand was meant to serve as the final rehearsal. In the fifth T20I at Thiruvananthapuram, India posted a massive 271 and eventually restricted New Zealand to 225, winning the match by 46 runs and the series 4–1. While the margin looks comfortable on paper, the match itself exposed worrying signs, especially in India’s bowling.

There are hardly any concerns about India’s batting. Suryakumar Yadav rediscovered his form at the right time, while Ishan Kishan produced a sensational century. However, the bowling unit told a different story. The performances of Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy failed to inspire confidence and left head coach Gautam Gambhir visibly concerned. The bowling attack that once turned matches around in the previous T20 World Cup now appears to be India’s biggest weakness.

Another area of concern is Sanju Samson’s form. Playing at home, he had a golden opportunity to cement his place but was dismissed for just six runs. Abhishek Sharma provided a brisk start with 30 off 16 balls, but everything else faded in comparison to Ishan Kishan’s brilliance. In one over off Ish Sodhi, Kishan smashed 29 runs, and alongside Suryakumar he looked set to push India towards a historic 300. After Suryakumar’s dismissal for 63, Hardik Pandya took charge with a powerful 42 off 17 balls.

Yet the night belonged to Kishan. After spending nearly two years out of the national side, he announced his return in emphatic fashion with 103 off just 43 balls, including six fours and ten sixes, at a strike rate close to 250. His innings not only demolished the New Zealand attack but also sent a strong message to every team ahead of the World Cup. There is now little doubt about his place in India’s playing XI.

Kishan also took up wicketkeeping duties in the match, raising a serious question about Samson’s future in the side. If Tilak Varma is included, Kishan is likely to open the innings, leaving Samson on the fringes. That seems to be the only likely change in the batting setup.

The real worry, however, remains the bowling. Despite defending 271, New Zealand came alarmingly close, with Finn Allen smashing 80 off 38 balls and Rachin Ravindra keeping the chase alive. For a while, the possibility of the highest successful run chase in T20 history looked very real. Dew made conditions difficult for Indian bowlers, but conceding 225 while defending such a huge total is still a cause for concern.

Arshdeep Singh eventually turned the match around with five wickets, while Axar Patel chipped in with three. But the question remains: what happens if India do not score a mountain of runs every game? As the World Cup approaches, India’s batting looks fearsome, but unless the bowling unit finds rhythm and discipline, the dream of lifting the trophy could once again be at risk.