India and New Zealand face each other today in the 5th and final T20I of the five-match series at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram. India have already sealed the series 3-1, but the final match still holds importance as both teams fine-tune their combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 in February.
New Zealand bounced back strongly in the fourth T20I with a 50-run win, scoring 215/7 and bowling India out for 165. India will now aim to finish the series 4-1, while New Zealand will look to end the tour on a positive note.
IND vs NZ 5th T20I Match Details
| Match | India vs New Zealand, 5th T20I |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, January 31, 2026 |
| Venue | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Toss Time | 6:30 PM IST |
| Match Start | 7:00 PM IST |
| Live Telecast | Star Sports Network |
| Live Streaming | JioCinema / Disney+ Hotstar |
| Weather | Clear, 20–25°C, no rain expected |
Pitch Report – Greenfield International Stadium
The Greenfield Stadium pitch is known for being batting-friendly, offering true bounce and good carry. Top-order batters usually enjoy stroke-play here, especially in the powerplay. Scores in the range of 170 to 190+ are common in T20Is at this venue.
Spinners can get some grip during the middle overs, but dew is unlikely to play a major role tonight. Teams winning the toss may prefer to bat first and put runs on the board, as chasing under pressure has proved difficult here.
Also see: IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction – 5th T20I
IND vs NZ Head-to-Head Record (T20Is)
| Matches | India Wins | New Zealand Wins | NR/Tie |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 17 | 11 | 1 |
Current Series: India lead 3-1
Also see: Abhishek Sharma vs New Zealand in T20Is
IND vs NZ Probable Playing XI
India (Probable XI)
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
Possible changes:
Ishan Kishan is expected to return after recovering from a minor niggle. Axar Patel is fully fit. Hardik Pandya may be rested as the series is already won.
New Zealand (Probable XI)
Finn Allen / Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Zak Foulkes / Lockie Ferguson
Team update:
Finn Allen is fresh from the BBL and could be included at the top to add aggression.
Key Player Stats – This Series
- Abhishek Sharma (IND): Series top scorer, providing explosive starts at the top.
- Shivam Dube (IND): 65 off 23 balls in the 4th T20I, a proven finisher.
- Suryakumar Yadav (IND): Consistent run-getter and strong captaincy presence.
- Tim Seifert (NZ): Scored 62 in the last match, dangerous in the powerplay.
- Mitchell Santner (NZ): Controlled spells and key wickets in the middle overs.
- Sanju Samson (IND): Low returns so far; a big knock needed at his home ground.
Injury Update
- Ishan Kishan (India): Missed the 4th T20I due to a minor niggle; trained fully and likely to play.
- Axar Patel (India): Recovered from finger injury and available.
- Hardik Pandya (India): May be rested as a workload management decision.
- Michael Bracewell (New Zealand): Doubtful due to calf strain; final call before match.
While India have already won the series, this match serves as a final audition before the T20 World Cup 2026. India will look to test bench strength and maintain winning momentum. New Zealand, on the other hand, will aim to show resilience and avoid a 4-1 series defeat.
All eyes will be on Sanju Samson at his home venue and whether Finn Allen aggressive approach can challenge India’s bowling attack once again. A high-scoring and entertaining contest is expected under lights in Thiruvananthapuram.
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