India and New Zealand will play the fifth and final T20I at Thiruvananthapuram. You already know India have sealed the series, but New Zealand avoided a clean sweep by winning the fourth match.
Focus on Sanju Samson
The spotlight will be on Sanju Samson, who plays at his home ground. You see this series as crucial for him since he is India’s first choice opener and wicketkeeper for the T20 World Cup. He has scored only 40 runs in four matches so far.
India may rotate players
India changed their bowling plan in the fourth T20I and did not use Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. With the series decided, you can expect more changes. Varun Chakaravarthy is likely to return after missing the last two games.
New Zealand seek strong finish
New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, will aim to end the tour on a positive note. You will see the match played on Saturday at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, starting at 7:00 PM IST.
Expected Indian batting order
India are expected to open with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. You will then see Shreyas Iyer and captain Suryakumar Yadav in the middle order, providing stability and pace.
Likely bowling attack
Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube should handle the finishing role. You can expect Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy to lead the bowling attack.
Head to head record
India and New Zealand have played 29 T20Is. You have seen India win 17 matches, while New Zealand won 11. One match ended in a tie.
Pitch and conditions
The Greenfield International Stadium has hosted only a few men’s T20Is. You usually see the pitch help batters, with high scores being common. Another high scoring game looks likely.
Where to watch the match
The India vs New Zealand fifth T20I will stream live on the JioHotstar app and website. You can also watch it on the Star Sports network from 7:00 PM IST.
