🏏 New Zealand vs India 5th T20I in Thiruvananthapuram 7 PM IST🏏 - Page 3

18:00 Local Time, 12:30 GMT, 18:00 IST: With the series already sealed in the first three games, India used the fourth T20I to experiment, even going in with one batter fewer. They did end up losing, but that wasn’t down to the team balance. New Zealand finally produced a near-perfect performance to halt the Indian juggernaut. Powered by a fluent fifty from Tim Seifert and useful contributions from the rest of the batting line-up, the visitors posted a strong 215. Skipper Mitchell Santner then led from the front with the ball, returning impressive figures of 3 for 26 to help New Zealand pull one back in the series. With the World Cup just a week away, this match serves as the final opportunity for both sides to iron out any lingering issues. India are dealing with a few injury concerns around Tilak Varma, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, but the replacements - Ishan Kishan and Ravi Bishnoi - have stepped up well during the series. Sanju Samson’s form remains a slight worry, though a return to his home ground could be just what he needs. For New Zealand, Finn Allen comes back into the side after a prolific Big Bash campaign as the tournament’s leading run-scorer and is set to replace Devon Conway. James Neesham has also rejoined the squad and could feature in the XI. The series result may be decided, but there’s still plenty at stake in this contest. Toss and teams coming up..

India won the toss and opted to Bat first. Good.

Teams:

New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner(c), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy

India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

Mitchell Santner: A little more windy, it might not be as dewy as the other night, but it's another opportunity for us to, I guess, bowl first. We've batted a few times this series, so, yeah, something different, I guess. We have got four changes - Allen in for Conway, Bevon Jacobs is in for Chapman, Kyle Jamieson for Foulkes and Lockie in place of Henry. (why is Henry not playing?) Yeah, it's just all precautionary stuff. I guess we're rotating around the bowlers a bit. For us, it's another opportunity tonight to put on a good performance, same with India, that next week's where it's crunch time for us. It's nice to always have Finn back in. And Lockie, we know how good he is as well. So, good opportunity tonight to see what these Indian pitches look like for Finn. Probably a little different from Perth where he's been. But, yeah, it's another good opportunity for us to see what he can do.

India have won the toss and have opted to bat

STAT: Only the fourth time Surya has opted to bat first in T20Is; three of these four games were dead rubbers. India won all the previous three with margins of 133 runs, 135 runs, and 21 runs.

If this is the case, why did Surya decide to bowl first in the last match?

The third change for India was Varun Chakravarthy coming back in. Both teams with plenty of changes. But all eyes will be on Samson who is walking out with Abhishek Sharma. New Zealand have a quick huddle before taking the field.

Second time this series India will bat first. Samson will play his first international game at this stadium. Not a full house but a decent part of the stadium is full. Abhishek on strike again. Duffy to bowl.

Mitchell Santner, NZ captain Little more wind here. Another opportunity to bowl first. Four changes - Finn for Conway, Jacobs in for Chapman, KJ back in, Lockie back in for Henry. Henry being out is precautionary.

Suryakumar Yadav, India captain We were here last night, there was dew. We want to test our bowlers. Curator said pitch will be true for the entire game. Axar, Ishan and one more, but don't worry Thiruvananthapuram, Sanju Samson will be playing. Tilak is playing practice games, he'll be ready. We've covered all departments.

2.5

W

FERGUSON TO SAMSON, OUT

Samson's short stay is done and the crowd has been silenced! Samson's back foot going back early costs him again.

Sanju Samson c Jacobs b Ferguson 6 (6b 1x4 0x6) SR: 100

Originally posted by: Savera84

STAT: Only the fourth time Surya has opted to bat first in T20Is; three of these four games were dead rubbers. India won all the previous three with margins of 133 runs, 135 runs, and 21 runs.

If this is the case, why did Surya decide to bowl first in the last match?

maybe they wanted to experiment but seeing the result of the last match thought it best to put runs on the board instead of chasing it.

Over 4

1 0 0 1 0 4 (6 runs)

IND 37-1

Abhishek Sharma

30(14)

Ishan Kishan

1(4)

JacoOver

Sanju Samson opened in home T20Is 15 instances and has crossed 30 just twice: 111 vs Ban in Hyderabad in 2024 and 37 vs SA in Ahmedabad in 2025.