India vs New Zealand will play their fifth T20 with the World Cup just around the corner. This match is the last chance for both teams to get things right. The series result does not matter now. For the toss, India has won the toss and has put New Zealand to bowl first.
India comes into the match with better recent form, while New Zealand have struggled in their last few games. Conway has opened in all matches so far, but Allen’s return raises questions about his role. Kishan missed the last game due to a niggle, but India has considered opening with him given his strong hitting form.
India vs New Zealand 5th T20 2026: Playing XIs for the 5th T20
In the India vs New Zealand series, India tried new ideas in the last match, including using Harshit Rana at No. 7 and resting Varun Chakravarthy. India will be hoping Sanju Samson scores runs, especially since the match is at his home ground in Trivandrum. He replaced Shubman Gill late because Gill was not scoring, and India does not want the same issue again before the World Cup.
New Zealand are still sorting out their team due to injuries and player availability. They are not expected to experiment much. Finn Allen has joined the squad after a strong BBL season, where he scored 466 runs at a high strike rate. New Zealand will want him to adjust to Indian conditions, where he has played only a few matches in the past.
Here is a look at the team lineup of India vs New Zealand for the 5th T20:
| India (IND) | New Zealand (NZ) |
| Abhishek Sharma | Finn Allen |
| Sanju Samson (wk) | Tim Seifert |
| Suryakumar Yadav (c) | Rachin Ravindra |
| Hardik Pandya | Daryl Mitchell |
| Ishan Kishan | Glenn Phillips |
| Rinku Singh | Bevon Jacobs |
| Shivam Dube | Mitchell Santner (c) |
| Axar Patel | Kyle Jamieson |
| Arshdeep Singh | Lockie Ferguson |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | Ish Sodhi |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Jacob Duffy |
Weather and Pitch Report for India vs New Zealand 5th T20
The pitch at Greenfield Stadium is usually balanced for the India vs New Zealand 5th T20. It has seen high-scoring games before, but bowlers get help if they bowl with good control and discipline.
The weather is expected to be warm, with temperatures between 25 and 30°C. Rain is not expected. Humidity will be high, and dew is likely in the second innings. This could affect bowling later in the game and may play a role in the toss decision.
FAQs
Q. Who leads the India vs New Zealand series?
A. India leads New Zealand 3-1 in the series.
Q. Where will the last India vs New Zealand match be played?
A. India vs New Zealand 5th T20 will be played at the Greenfield Stadium in Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram.
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