IND vs NZ, 5th T20I Match Prediction: Who will win today’s game between India and New Zealand?

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The Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram is all set to host the fifth and final T20I between India and New Zealand. With the series already in India’s bag (3-1), this finale is more than just a dead rubber; it is a final dress rehearsal before the T20 World Cup 2026 kicks off.

India may have lost the 4th T20I by 50 runs, but they remain the dominant force. All eyes will be on Sanju Samson, who returns to his home ground. After a series of mixed scores, there is no better stage for him to solidify his World Cup spot than in front of his roaring Kerala fans.

The Indian bowling unit, led by Jasprit Bumrah, will look to tighten things up after New Zealand’s top order took them apart in Visakhapatnam. Suryakumar Yadav remains the anchor, while the explosive Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube provide the middle-order muscle.

The Kiwis arrive with renewed confidence after a clinical victory in the previous match. Tim Seifert and Devon Conway finally found their rhythm at the top, and captain Mitchell Santner proved why he is one of the craftiest operators in the format. For New Zealand, this match is about carrying that momentum and proving that their 4th T20I win wasn’t just a flash in the pan.

Matches played: 29 | India won: 17 | New Zealand won: 11 | No result/Tied: 1

Historically, Thiruvananthapuram has been a venue that tests a batter’s patience rather than their power. Unlike the flat tracks often seen in the IPL, this surface offers a unique challenge. Expect the new ball to zip and swing. The humidity from the nearby coast often aids seamers, and the bounce is generally true, rewarding those who hit the deck hard. As the match progresses, the pitch has a tendency to grip, bringing spinners and “cutter” specialists into the game. Being a night match in late January, heavy dew is expected in the second innings. This usually tilts the scales back in favor of the batters chasing, as the ball becomes slippery and harder for bowlers to control.

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India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-capt), 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, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Zakary Foulkes, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi

Case 1:

Case 2:

Match result: Team bowling first to win the contest

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