India made strategic changes for the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand at the Greenfield International Stadium on January 31. With the T20 World Cup inching closer, this matchup served as an important testing ground for team combinations and conditions.
India Return Key Players for Final Match
The highlight of the evening was the return of Ishan Kishan, who missed the fourth T20I due to a minor niggle. Alongside him, Axar Patel and mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy were brought back into the playing XI.
To make room for the trio, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi were rested.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and chose to bat first. His decision wasn’t just tactical but experimental. India wanted to challenge their bowlers by defending a total in expected heavy dew conditions during the second innings.
Suryakumar Yadav Explains the Call to Bat First
Speaking at the toss, Suryakumar gave insight into his plan:
“We are going to bat first. There was a lot of dew last night, so we want to test ourselves. The pitch should play true for all 40 overs. Axar comes back, Ishan comes back and one more. And yes, Thiruvananthapuram, Sanju Samson is playing tonight.”
His mention of Sanju Samson, the local favourite, brought a loud cheer from the crowd. SKY added that the team is close to finalising their World Cup blueprint, and every game is helping them refine the last few boxes.
New Zealand Shuffle Their Squad Too
New Zealand also refreshed their lineup with four changes.
Finn Allen, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, and Lockie Ferguson came into the side as the visitors looked to finish the series on a high.
India’s Playing XI for 5th T20I
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson (w)
- Ishan Kishan
- Suryakumar Yadav (c)
- Rinku Singh
- Hardik Pandya
- Shivam Dube
- Axar Patel
- Arshdeep Singh
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand’s Playing XI for 5th T20I
- Tim Seifert (w)
- Finn Allen
- Rachin Ravindra
- Glenn Phillips
- Daryl Mitchell
- Bevon Jacobs
- Mitchell Santner (c)
- Kyle Jamieson
- Ish Sodhi
- Lockie Ferguson
- Jacob Duffy
Final Thoughts
This final T20I was more than just another match. It was a dress rehearsal for both teams as they sharpen their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup. With key players returning and conditions challenging, the game promised excitement and plenty of insights for the coaching staff.