India will be keen to seal the five-match series with a victory in the final game in Thiruvananthapuram, following their first loss of the assignment in the fourth match at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam. With the series secured, the team opted for a strategic change, bringing in Arshdeep Singh in place of the injured Ishan Kishan,, who was ruled out due to a niggle.
As the fifth T20I approaches, India is expected to make some tactical adjustments, with the team management looking to rotate players and explore different combinations in preparation for the T20 World Cup 2026. All-rounder Axar Patel is in the mix for a spot in the final match, with Hardik Pandya likely to be rested to manage his workload.
Varun Chakravarthy, who sat out the previous two T20Is, has been bowling regularly in the nets following the fourth T20I in Visakhapatnam and appears to be in excellent rhythm. With his strong showing during practice, the spinner could earn a recall for the Thiruvananthapuram fixture.
After missing the fourth T20I due to injury, Ishan Kishan is all set to rejoin the squad. The wicketkeeper-batter has been working hard in the nets, spending over an hour training against both spin and pace. His intensity and commitment in practice sessions suggest that he is fit and ready to slot back into the XI for the next match.
With Kishan likely to return at No. 3, India might use the final T20I to experiment with combinations and assess their middle-order options.
How will New Zealand alter their team?
For New Zealand, Fin Allen is expected to step in for Devon Conway at the top of the order after rejoining the squad following his BBL stint. Meanwhile, Michael Bracewell’s availability remains in doubt due to a minor left-calf strain he picked up while fielding during the third ODI in Indore.
India’s Probable XI for 5th T20I: Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Varun Chakaravarthy, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
New Zealand’s Probable XI for 5th T20I: Tim Seifert (wk), Mark Chapman, Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (c), Zakary Foulkes, Daryl Mitchell, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi,