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IND vs NZ, 5th T20I: The final showdown serves as World Cup dress rehearsal
The fifth and final T20I between India and New Zealand will be played on Saturday in Thiruvananthapuram. This is the last game for both teams before the biggest carnival, the T20 World Cup 2026, which is hardly a week away. The series is already decided, with India having sealed it with the victories in the first three games. The trophy will not change hands regardless of what happens in Trivandrum.
However, this game is not a dead rubber, as it serves as a dress rehearsal for both sides ahead of the global event. For New Zealand, a comprehensive victory in Visakhapatnam in the fourth game was more than just a consolation. It brought an end to a losing streak.
Moreover, a win in Trivandrum would help them finish the tour with a 3–2 scoreline. India, on the other hand, find themselves in a slightly different mental space. Having already won the series, the temptation to relax and experiment backfired in the fourth game. The loss in Vizag served as a timely reminder not to take things lightly. Meanwhile, this final game is less about experimentation and more about refinement.
Head-to-head
Matches - 29
IND won - 15
NZ won - 11
No results - 3
India likely XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan/Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy
New Zealand likely XI: Finn Allen, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), Zak Foulkes, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy
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