The fifth T20I match between India and New Zealand has generated significant anticipation, especially with Ishan Kishan returning to the squad. He missed the fourth T20I due to a minor injury but has been reinstated in the lineup.
Match Details
India has already secured the T20I series, providing an opportunity to experiment with the team strategy. They won the toss and decided to bat first, aiming to challenge their bowlers in potentially dewy conditions in Thiruvananthapuram. Captain Suryakumar Yadav emphasized the importance of preparing for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Team Changes
Both teams made significant changes to their rosters for this match. India introduced three players:
- Ishan Kishan
- Axar Patel
- Varun Chakravarthy
Meanwhile, they left out Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravi Bishnoi. The absence of Tilak Varma, who is recovering from an injury, is noted, but he is expected to return for the World Cup warm-up matches.
New Zealand also made four changes to their lineup:
- Finn Allen
- Bevon Jacobs
- Kyle Jamieson
- Lockie Ferguson
Ferguson returns after a considerable break, having not played since November 2024. Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Zak Foulkes, and Matt Henry were left out, with Henry’s absence described as precautionary due to a minor niggle.
Playing XI
Here are the playing elevens for both teams:
| India | New Zealand |
|---|---|
| 1. Abhishek Sharma | 1. Tim Seifert (wk) |
| 2. Sanju Samson (wk) | 2. Finn Allen |
| 3. Ishan Kishan | 3. Rachin Ravindra |
| 4. Suryakumar Yadav (capt) | 4. Glenn Phillips |
| 5. Rinku Singh | 5. Daryl Mitchell |
| 6. Hardik Pandya | 6. Bevon Jacobs |
| 7. Shivam Dube | 7. Mitchell Santner (capt) |
| 8. Axar Patel | 8. Kyle Jamieson |
| 9. Arshdeep Singh | 9. Ish Sodhi |
| 10. Varun Chakravarthy | 10. Lockie Ferguson |
| 11. Jasprit Bumrah | 11. Jacob Duffy |
The spotlight will be on Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan as they take on their roles at home in this crucial fixture. Fans are eager to see if Kishan can shine in his much-anticipated return.
