Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram is ready to host the fifth and final T20I match India and New Zealand. With the series already in India’s hands (3-1), this ending was more than just a deadlock; it was the last dress rehearsal before the start of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The return of a local hero

India may have lost the fourth T20I by 50 runs, but they were still a dominant force. All eyes will be on Sanzhou Samsonreturned to his hometown. After a string of mixed results, there could be no better stage for him than to cement his World Cup berth in front of a roaring Kerala crowd.

Indian bowling team, made up of Jasprit BumrahThey will be looking to tighten policy after New Zealand’s top order separated them in Visakhapatnam. Suryakumar Yadav Still an anchor, and an explosive Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dubey Provides mid-range muscle.

Black Hat Momentum

New Zealand arrive with new confidence after a clinical win in their last game. Tim Seifert and Devin Conway Finally found the peak rhythm, captain Mitchell Santner Proving why he’s one of the craftiest operators in the format. For New Zealand, this game is about continuing that momentum and proving that their fourth T20I win is no flash in the pan.

IND vs NZ, 5th T20I: Match details

• Date and time: January 31; 7:00 pm (IST) / 1:30 pm (GMT)
• Place: Greenfield International Stadium, Trivandrum

IND vs. NZ, head-to-head records (T20Is)

Number of games: 29 | india won: 17 | new zealand wins: 11 | No result/draw: 1

Greenfield International Stadium Promotion Report

Historically, Thiruvananthapuram has been a venue that tests batsmen’s patience rather than their strength. Unlike the flat tracks that are common in the IPL, this surface offers unique challenges. Expect the new ball to slide and swing quickly. The humidity on the nearby coast usually helps seamers, and the bounce is usually real, rewarding those who hit hard on the deck. As the game progressed, the pitch gradually became tense with spinners and ‘chip’ specialists joining the action. As it is a night game in late January, expect a big reveal in the second inning. This usually tips the scales back in favor of the batsman chasing as the ball becomes slippery and harder for the bowler to control.

Also read: Ravi Shastri predicts both teams to cross 300-run milestone in T20 World Cup 2026

squad

India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravi Bishnoi.

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Mark Chapman, Michael Bracewell, Bevan Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Zachary Fox, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi

IND vs NZ, 5th T20I: Today’s match predictions

Case 1:

• India win first in toss and bowling
• New Zealand powerplay score: 40-50
• New Zealand overall score: 150-160

Case 2:

• New Zealand win first in toss and bowling
• India Power Score: 50-60
• India’s total score: 170-180

Competition results: Team bowling wins the game first

Also read: Suresh Raina names shocker as India’s potential century scorer for T20 World Cup 2026