The Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram is all set to host the fifth and final T20I. India and New Zealand. With the series already in India’s bag (3-1), this final is more than just a dead rubber; This is the last dress rehearsal before the start of T20 World Cup 2026.
Homecoming of a local hero
India may have lost the 4th T20I by 50 runs, but they remain a dominant force. All eyes will be on it Sanju Samsonwho returned to his country. After a series of mixed accounts, there is no better stage for him to consolidate his World Cup than in front of Kerala fans.
The Indian bowling unit led by him jasprit bumrahNew Zealand’s top order will look to tighten things up after tearing them apart in Visakhapatnam. Suryakumar Yadav explosive though it is, it remains an anchor Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dubey provides moderate muscle.
Momentum in the Black Hats camp
The Kiwis arrived with renewed confidence after a clinical victory in the previous match. Tim Seifert and Devon Conway they finally found their rhythm at the top and the captain Mitchell Santner has proven to be one of the craftiest operators in the format. For New Zealand, this match is all about carrying that momentum and proving that their 4th T20I win is not just a fluke.
IND vs NZ, 5th T20I: Match details
- Date and Time: January 31; 19:00 IST / 1:30 GMT
- Location: Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
IND vs NZ Head to Head Record (T20Is)
Matches played: 29 | India won: 17 | New Zealand won: 11 | No result/Closed: 1
Greenfield International Stadium Field Report
Historically, Thiruvananthapuram has been a place that tests the patience, not the strength, of a corpse. Unlike the flat fairways often seen in the IPL, this surface offers a unique challenge. Wait for the new ball to spin and swing. Wet from the nearby shore often helps sailors, and the bounce is generally true, rewarding those who hit the deck hard. As the match progresses, spinners and ‘cut’ specialists tend to be brought into play on the pitch. Being a night match in late January, heavy dew is expected in the second innings. This usually causes the scales to tip back as the ball becomes slippery and difficult for the bowlers to control.
Also READ: Ravi Shastri predicts two teams to cross 300-run milestone in T20 World Cup 2026
Groups
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, B Ishannoi (c).
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Zakary Foulkes, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi
IND vs NZ, 5th T20I: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- India win the toss first
- New Zealand powerplay score: 40-50
- New Zealand total score: 150-160
Case 2:
- New Zealand go first in the toss
- India powerplay score: 50-60
- India Total Score: 170-180
Match result: The first bowling team to win the competition
Also READ: Suresh Raina shock name for India’s potential run-scorer in T20 World Cup 2026
