India are set to face New Zealand in the final match of the five-match T20I series in Thiruvananthapuram, and team management are considering three key changes to their playing XI ahead of the decider. With the series already won, this fixture presents an opportunity to adjust combinations and manage player workloads before the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

One potential change is the return of all-rounder Axar Patel, who missed earlier games due to a minor injury and could rejoin the side to strengthen both batting depth and spin options. India may also look to rest some frontline players to balance fitness concerns, particularly with a hectic international calendar approaching. This tactical rotation could include resting senior quicks or all-rounders to give emerging talents a chance.

Another area of focus is the batting order, where the return of dynamic batters could add firepower in the middle overs. The final T20I is likely to feature a mix of experienced campaigners and promising youngsters as India fine-tune their setup and assess bench strength. These changes reflect a strategic approach to maintain momentum and experiment with combinations ahead of major tournaments.

See Also: Watch: Pakistan reaches out to USA to complain on BCCI power in cricket ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

#1 Ishan Kishan for Jasprit Bumrah

Initial reports had indicated that Jasprit Bumrah would feature in the first, third and fifth T20Is against New Zealand, but the pacer eventually played the fourth match instead. With that in mind, India could consider resting Bumrah for Saturday’s game to manage his workload. The team may also look to tweak their combination if the fast bowler is given a break.

Should Bumrah be rested, India are expected to strengthen their batting depth by adding an extra batter. In the previous match, Harshit Rana batted at No. 7, but including Ishan Kishan would provide more stability and firepower. The team management has hinted at Kishan’s inclusion, confirming that he has recovered from the niggle that ruled him out of the fourth T20I.

#2 Varun Chakaravarthy for Ravi Bishnoi

Varun Chakaravarthy has sat out the last two T20Is and is likely to make his return in the series finale. To accommodate him, Ravi Bishnoi appears the most likely player to be rested, especially since he is not part of India’s T20 World Cup squad. This change would allow the team to focus on players central to their plans for upcoming major tournaments.

Bishnoi had been included as a backup option in case Washington Sundar was unavailable, but Sundar is expected to regain full fitness ahead of the ICC event. As a result, prioritising Bishnoi’s game time is less important at this stage. Instead, the team management may look to ensure Varun Chakaravarthy regains rhythm and sharpness across different bowling phases before the tournament.

#3 Axar Patel for Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya neither bowled nor made a significant impact with the bat in the previous match, which strengthens the case for resting him in the fifth T20I against New Zealand. Having featured in all four games so far, the all-rounder has been consistently involved, even if he hasn’t gone all out in the field. With his fitness needing careful management, a break could be beneficial ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Axar Patel appears to have fully recovered from the finger injury he picked up in the series opener and is well placed to step in. His inclusion would allow India to manage Hardik’s workload while maintaining balance in both batting and bowling departments.

In this IND vs NZ today match prediction, the fifth T20I between India and New Zealand is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram. New Zealand won the fourth T20I match by 50 runs. They posted an excellent total of 215 runs in 20 overs. Opening batsman Tim Seifert scored a quick-fire half-century and Daryl Mitchell smashed 39 runs off 18 balls. 

In response, the Indian team failed to chase down the target and were bowled out at 165 runs in 18.5 overs. All-rounder Shivam Dube scored 65 runs off 23 balls including 7 sixes but was not able to chase down the target. In the bowling department, captain Mitch Santner took three wickets.

Also Read: IND vs NZ Dream11 Prediction Today: 5th T20I, New Zealand Tour of India, 2026 Fantasy Cricket Tips, Team, and Pitch Report

IND vs NZ Match Details

• Match: India vs New Zealand, 5th T20I

• Date: 31st January 2025

• Time: 7.00 PM IST

• Venue: Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar 

IND vs NZ Weather Report

Pitch Report - Greenfield International Stadium

The pitch report shows a balanced surface at first, but then slows down later. Batting first has been the most effective strategy at this venue in history. Teams posting 220-plus scores usually win games here comfortably. Tonight promises another mouthwatering contest between both teams. Clear weather and evening dew might help chasing teams slightly.

Top Batters to Watch – IND vs NZ

• Suryakumar Yadav (IND): 179 runs in this series 

• Glenn Phillips (NZ): 169 runs in this series 

• Abhishek Sharma (IND): 152 runs in this series 

Top Bowlers to Watch – IND vs NZ

• Hardik Pandya (IND): 4 wickets in this series 

• Jacob Duffy (NZ): 5 wickets in this series 

• Ish Sodhi (NZ): 5 wickets in this series 

IND vs NZ Recent Form

     Winning Probability

• India: 80%

• New Zealand: 20%

IND vs NZ Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If IND Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 55–70

• Predicted Total: 190–220

• Match Result: IND to win

Scenario 2: If NZ Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 45–55

• Predicted Total: 175–185

• Match Result: IND to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

IND vs NZ Predicted Playing XIs

India

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, and Arshdeep Singh.. 

New Zealand 

Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Devon Conway, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Nessham, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, and Ish Sodhi.

IND vs NZ Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

According to our IND vs NZ today match prediction, India are the favourites to win this 5th T20I  match. The likes of Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav will be key players to watch out for.

IND vs NZ Match FAQs

India’sfielding had already clinical during the third T20O of the five-match series as they continued the same brilliance during the fourth game at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. Rinku Singh had already grabbed a fine catch on the boundary rope, which reflected on his great judgment of pole speed and the timing of the jump. 

Two overs later on the very first delivery of the 17th over, Hardik Pandya’s rocket throw runs the New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner out for 11 runs in six balls. The southpaw closed the bat face early, and the outside edge rolled towards short third man. Pandya was well aware of the situation as he gathered the ball quickly and fired a direct hit at the bowler’s end.

See Also: Watch: Rinku Singh's fantastic catch dismisses Glenn Phillips during IND vs NZ 4th T20I

Santner’s dive wasn’t enough to save him as he departed after playing a brief cameo. The left-handed batter smashed Ravi Bishnoi for a strong boundary, punched through the covers region after which he deposited the next delivery over the bowler’s head for a clean six.

Hardik Pandya runs out Mitchell Santner during IND vs NZ 4th T20I

Earlier in the game, New Zealand got a great platform thanks to their 100-run opening partnership between Devon Conway and Tim Seifert, where the former put up 44 runs in just 23 deliveries, thanks to his four boundaries and three sixes at a strike rate of more than 190.

Watch the video here: 

Bullseye 🎯

Hardik Pandya with a superb direct hit 🔥

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/GVkrQKKyd6 #TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/u2aFicOLL9

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 28, 2026

Seifert posted a strong knock of 62 runs in 36 relay breeze at a strike rate of more than 170, scoring on seven boundaries and three sixes. After this, Darry Mitchell took the onus on himself to give them a strong finish in the batting as he continued to smash the ball in all regions of the park.

It was not an easy job to bowl in the dew as India's captain Surya Kumar Yadav mentioned during the toss, where he felt that the due factor would be an advantage in the second innings during their chase which was accepted by the Kiwi captain Santner who had a woody face during the toss.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 215/7 (Tim Seifert 62, Devon Conway 44, Arshdeep Singh 2/33) vs India. 

In this IND vs NZ today match prediction, the fourth T20I between India and New Zealand is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam. India won the third T20I match by eight wickets and won the series 3-0. New Zealand, batting first, posted a below-par total at this venue. Glenn Phillips scored 48 runs off 40 balls, while  Mark Chapman scored 32 runs off just 23 balls. 

In response, the Indian team comfortably chased down the target in just 10 overs. Indian superstar opener Abhishek Sharma scored 68 runs off 20 balls, captain Suryakumar Yadav scored 57 runs off 6 balls and helped her team to chase down the target. In the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets.

Also Read: West Indies tour to South Africa, 1st T20I: SA vs WI, Probable Playing 11, Where To Watch, Live Streaming Details

IND vs NZ Match Details

• Match: India vs New Zealand, 4th T20I

• Date: 28th January 2025

• Time: 7.00 PM IST

• Venue: ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam

• Live Streaming: FanCode

IND vs NZ Weather Report

Pitch Report - ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium

The pitch surface at Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium is known for being batting-friendly and conducive to high scores. Although the large boundaries create some difficulty, the ground has typically seen high totals. Additionally, dew may play a role in the second innings.

Top Batters to Watch – IND vs NZ

• Suryakumar Yadav (IND): 171 runs in this series 

• Glenn Phillips (NZ): 145 runs in this series 

• Abhishek Sharma (IND): 152 runs in this series 

Top Bowlers to Watch – IND vs NZ

• Hardik Pandya (IND): 4 wickets in this series 

• Varun Chakaravarthy IND): 3 wickets in this series 

• Shivam Dube (IND): 3 wickets in this series 

IND vs NZ Recent Form

     Winning Probability

• India: 80%

• New Zealand: 20

IND vs NZ Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If IND Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 55–70

• Predicted Total: 190–220

• Match Result: IND to win

Scenario 2: If NZ Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 45–55

• Predicted Total: 175–185

• Match Result: IND to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

IND vs NZ Predicted Playing XIs

India

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh. 

New Zealand 

Devon Conway, Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips (WK), Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (C), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy

IND vs NZ Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

According to our IND vs NZ today match prediction, India are the favourites to win this 4th T20I  match. The likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav will be key players to watch out for.

IND vs NZ Match FAQs

India’s premier all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, has looked back on his 10-year international cricket career as he reflected on just starting on the path that he truly wished to take. The veteran marked his international debut against Australia in an ODI at Adelaide on the Republic Day in 2016, as he shared his feelings on Instagram with a video. 

Hardik has smashed a total of 2027 runs in 98 innings of the shortest format at an average of 28.54 and a strike rate of 143.65, with the help of 11 half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 71 runs. With the ball, the Indian all-rounder has picked up 105 wickets at an average of 26.54 and an economy rate of 8.29.

See Also: Watch: Babar Azam smashes Shaheen Afridi for 21 runs in five balls ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

“10 years of this journey, the year I turn 33. It is one thing to play the sport I love with all my heart, and it is another to be able to serve my country through it. I love you all, thank you for everything. Thank you, God, for the trials and tribulations that got me here. The chances that so many people took. The opportunity to live this life.” Hardik wrote on the video that he shared on Instagram.

Hardik Pandya shares emotional video on his 10-year journey for India

Hardik has been part of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning side, where he contributed both with the bat and ball, including in the crunch situation where he bowled the final over against South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Barbados.

Watch the video here: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hardik Pandya (@hardikpandya93)

“This year has taught me that this is merely the beginning. I am only just getting started on the path I truly wish to walk. Young Hardik running an extra few miles to get to play from Baroda - a batsman bowling extra balls in the nets to bowlers who never got to practice batting, becoming an all-rounder at 19, and from getting noticed and getting rejected.” The Baroda all-rounder shed light.

“Getting to play for my desh has been the most worthwhile journey for me. God had great plans for me when he let me debut on the 26th of January. I have become a man while playing this sport, and I will grow old playing it too.” Hardik Pandya informed.

Right after India claimed an emphatic win against New Zealand in the Guwahati T20I, which secured the five-match T20I series for the hosts with two matches yet to be played, two Indian pace-bowling all-rounders were busy with their bats at the net. 

Hosts India completely dominated in the third T20I last Sunday night (January 25), where they thrashed the Blackcaps by eight wickets with 60 balls remaining to secure the series by 3-0.

New Zealand were restricted to 153/9 in 20 overs in the first innings. While Jasprit Bumrah bagged three wickets (3/17), Ravi Bishnoi (2/18) and Hardik Pandya (2/23) took two wickets each, and Harshit Rana (1/35) got one wicket. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav (0/32) and Shivam Dube (0/24) were wicketless.

See Also: Know dates and Venues for warm up matches of India for upcoming T20 World Cup 2026

Indian top-order batters comfortably chased

Although the opener Sanju Samson (0) was dismissed on the first ball of the second innings. his opening partner Abhishek Sharma (68 not out off 20 balls) and the next batters Ishan Kishan (28 off 13 balls) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (57 not out off 26 balls) thrashed the opponent bowlers to successfully chase the target in just 10 overs, the second fastest T20I chase for 150+ target. 

Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube busy in net practice after IND vs NZ Guwahati T20I

As Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube both didn't get batting opportunities in the match, they were busy in the nets right after the end of the match. 

🎥 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 🙌

Focus 🔛 from #TeamIndia players in the nets right after a big win 💪#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/l7s3XmhzJD

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 26, 2026

Although Dube batted in the second T20I, where he played the key finisher role (36 not out off 18 balls) along with his skipper Suryakumar Yadav (82 not out off 37 balls) in the successful 209-run chase in 16 overs, Hardik didn't get the batting opportunity in that fixture too. 

In the series opener, while Dube scored only nine runs in the first batting, Hardik scored 25 off 16 balls.

Just before the start of the third T20I of the five-match series between India and New Zealand at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Harshit Rana and Devon Conway shared a friendly pat and chat between them, with the former dismissing him four times in the series, including thrice in the ODI leg. 

And it suddenly became five times on the third ball of the first over. The southpaw used his feet to move leg side and take the aerial route against Rana to beat the mid-on fielder. But he failed to get the right elevation as Hardik Pandya jumped at the right time to grab a fine catch in the air to send the left-handed opening batter back in the hut.

See Also: Watch: Jack Edwards’ stunning diving catch dismisses Finn Allen in BBL 2025/26 final

Conway has now managed only 19 runs in five innings of 27 deliveries against Rana at an average of 3.80. His false shot percentage goes up to 28.5 in the face-off, as the left-handed batter averages 0.5 with two dismissals for one run against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) fast bowler.

Harshit Rana dismisses Devon Conway for fifth time in this tour

In the absence of Arshdeep Singh, who was given a break for the contest along with Varun Chakravarthy ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 to keep them fresh in the bowling department, Hardik Pandya shared the new ball from the other end, and he earned the success with the wicket of Rachin Ravindra.

Watch the video here: 

Harshit Rana sticks to his routine and dismisses Devon Conway for the 5th time this tour, capped off by a stunning catch from Hardik Pandya 👏#INDvNZ, 3rd T20I | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/YLbfrU7NU6 pic.twitter.com/evHWtQsJRr

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) January 25, 2026

Ravindra took the short ball on with a pull shot and picked the lone man in the deep on the leg side, where Ravi Bishnoi went forward and moved to his left in the process at the deep square leg. New Zealand found themselves under tremendous pressure, two down in two overs with 17 runs on the board.

New Zealand lost the toss and had to field first in the game, where dew would play a massive role late in the fixture. They decided to make only one change by bringing Kyle Jamieson into the eleven in place of Zakary Foulkes.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 33/2 (Glenn Phillips 17*, Harshit Rana 1/15) vs India. 

The third T20I between India and New Zealand is scheduled to take place on Sunday at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati. India won the second T20I match by seven wickets against New Zealand and leads the series 2-0. New Zealand, batting first, posted a strong total of 209 runs in the 20 overs. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner smashed 47 runs off 27 balls, while finisher Rachin Ravindra scored 44 runs off just 26 balls. 

In response, the Indian team comfortably chased down the target in just 15.2 overs. Ishan Kishan scored 76 runs off 32 balls, captain Suryakumar Yadav scored 82 runs off 37 balls and helped her team to chase down the target. In the bowling department, Arshdeep Singh continues to rattle up the top order of New Zealand with his swing bowling.

Also Read: U19 World Cup 2026, Match 24: IND U19 vs NZ U19 head-to-head, pitch report and predicted playing XIs

IND vs NZ Match Details

• Match: India vs New Zealand, 3rd T20I

• Date: 25th January 2025

• Time: 7.00 PM IST

• Venue: Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati

• Live Streaming: FanCode

IND vs NZ Weather Report

IND vs NZ Pitch Report

At Barsapara Cricket Stadium, batters have generally been favoured by the pitch, which leads to high-scoring matches being common. Bowlers who vary their pace have been successful, particularly when teams bat first.

Top Batters to Watch – IND vs NZ

• Suryakumar Yadav (IND): 114 runs in this series 

• Glenn Phillips (NZ): 97 runs in this series 

• Abhishek Sharma (IND): 84 runs in this series 

Top Bowlers to Watch – IND vs NZ

• Jacob Duffy (NZ): 3 wickets in this series 

• Varun Chakaravarthy IND): 3 wickets in this series 

• Shivam Dube (IND): 3 wickets in this series 

IND vs NZ Recent Form

     Winning Probability

• India: 70%

• New Zealand: 30%

IND vs NZ Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If IND Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 55–65

• Predicted Total: 185–200

• Match Result: IND to win

Scenario 2: If NZ Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 45–55

• Predicted Total: 170–180

• Match Result: IND to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

IND vs NZ Predicted Playing XIs

India

Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav 

New Zealand 

Devon Conway (wk), Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Kristian Clarke

IND vs NZ Today Match Prediction – Who Will Win Today?

We predict that India will win the 3rd T20I match. The likes of Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav will be key players to watch out for.

IND vs NZ Match FAQs

India's premier all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, was involved in a heated exchange with the former left-arm spinner and the current broadcaster Murali Kartik ahead of the 7020 of the ongoing five-match series against New Zealand at the Shahid Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur. Hardik seemed to be finishing his practice session before the contest. 

One of the fans recorded the video, which has gone viral around the social media platforms to attract several views, where the Indian all-rounder was seen walking onto the ground for batting practice, where Kartik, a part of the broadcast team, greeted the star player as the conversation turned tense and Pandya got angry while Karthik tried to calm him down.

See Also: Watch: “Verge of exclusion…”- Bangladesh Sports Advisor reacts to their decision of boycotting T20 World Cup 2026

There is no confirmation on why Hardik turned angry, but he could be easily seen as not happy with something. The right-handed batter, along with his bowling performance, will be a massive player for the defending champions in the home T20 World Cup 2026, where they begin their campaign against the United States of America in Mumbai.

Hardik Pandya’s heated argument with Murali Kartik goes viral

Down with a 1-0 margin heading into the second T20I, New Zealand posted 208 runs for the loss of six wickets in their allotted 20 overs as their captain, Mitchell Santner, remained unbeaten on 47 runs in 27 deliveries, while others also chipped in at an aggressive approach for the entire innings.

Watch the video here:

Heated exchange between Hardik Pandya and Murali Kartik? Thoughts? 👀 pic.twitter.com/PsKs2ia7TF

— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) January 23, 2026

India completed the chase by seven wickets in 15.2 overs as Ishan Kishan set the platform with 76 runs in just 32 deliveries before captain Suryakumar Yadav remained unbeaten on 82 runs in just 37 balls, besides another massive contribution from Shivam Dube, who nailed 36 runs in 18 deliveries.

“I’m really enjoying what’s happening right now. The mood in the camp is very happy, and I want to keep everyone in that space. We want to continue playing the same brand of cricket, irrespective of what’s happening, and leave no stone unturned.” Suryakumar Yadav, the T20I captain, expressed in the post-match ceremony.