Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to bat first in the fifth and final T20I against New Zealand at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday. While India has already sealed the series, the match remains crucial for both sides as they look to test combinations and build momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin next month.

Team India has largely achieved its objectives in the series, experimenting with squad combinations and giving opportunities to fringe players. After a setback in the fourth T20I at Visakhapatnam, the Men in Blue are eager to regain form and fine-tune roles before their title defence. One key talking point is the form of Sanju Samson, who may be fighting for his spot in the playing XI with Ishan Kishan as an alternative. The return of Tilak Varma has intensified competition, particularly for the crucial No. 3 batting position.

For New Zealand, the series outcome may be out of reach, but the final T20I provides an opportunity to chase pride and restore confidence. The Kiwis impressed in the previous match, showcasing aggressive batting and disciplined bowling, though concerns remain over their middle-overs performance. A strong finish in Thiruvananthapuram would not only boost morale but also help carry momentum into the T20 World Cup.

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India’s probable playing XI includes Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (w), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Jasprit Bumrah. New Zealand’s probable XI features Tim Seifert (w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, and Jacob Duffy.

Fans can watch the match live on the Star Sports Network in India, with streaming available on the JioHotstar app and website. Despite being a dead-rubber in terms of the series result, the fifth T20I promises an exciting contest as both teams fine-tune their strategies and players ahead of the global tournament.

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