Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was seen practising in the nets at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, January 31, ahead of the fifth T20I against New Zealand. During the session, Bumrah bowled to Shreyas Iyer using a slightly different method, as he delivered the ball without taking a run-up, though his bowling action stayed the same.

There is a chance that the 32-year-old pacer may be rested for the final T20I. India has already won the series, and the team may want to manage Bumrah’s workload with the T20 World Cup approaching. He has played only three matches in the series and taken four wickets. His best performance came in the third T20I, where he returned figures of 3 for 17 and won the Player of the Match award.

Since Bumrah has had injury issues in the past, the team management may choose to give him a break before the big tournament.

Watch the video here: 

Jasprit Bumrah trying spin bowling to Shreyas Iyer during a practice session at Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, ahead of the IND vs NZ 5th T20I. 😂 pic.twitter.com/MtvVA0dwmb

— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) January 31, 2026

Focus Also on Shreyas Iyer

All eyes will also be on Shreyas Iyer and whether he gets a chance to play. He was added to the squad as a replacement for the injured Tilak Varma, but has not played any match in the series so far. Iyer has been seen batting in the nets many times, but is still waiting for his opportunity.

Big Expectations from Jasprit Bumrah

Meanwhile, expectations from Jasprit Bumrah will once again be very high as Team India aim to make history by defending their T20 World Cup title. India will be looking to become the first team to successfully defend the trophy, as no host nation has won the title yet. Suryakumar Yadav and his team will be eager to achieve this special feat.

Bumrah was named Player of the Tournament in the T20 World Cup 2024 after taking 15 wickets in eight matches at an excellent average of 8.26. In the final against South Africa, he bowled a brilliant 18th over, giving away only two runs and taking a key wicket. India went on to win the final by seven runs, ending their 11-year wait for an ICC title.

Former India cricketer and noted commentator Aakash Chopra has openly backed Shreyas Iyer after the Mumbai batter was left out of the playing XI for the fourth T20I between India and New Zealand in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. Chopra questioned the rationale behind the team management’s selection choices, suggesting that excluding a proven batter like Iyer was unnecessary. He stressed that Iyer’s presence in the middle order would have added stability and experience, and including him would not have disrupted the team’s balance in any way.

Chopra further highlighted that India effectively went into the match with one batter short, which could have been avoided with Iyer’s inclusion. He felt that such decisions place undue pressure on the rest of the batting lineup, especially in a high-intensity T20 contest. According to Chopra, players like Iyer, who have consistently performed in pressure situations, deserve clearer communication regarding their roles. His comments sparked discussion around selection consistency and the importance of backing established performers in the shortest format.

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"Playing Shreyas Iyer wouldn’t have harmed anyone…instead going in a batter short. Also, batting first to challenge the bowlers in the second innings (dew expected) wouldn’t have been a bad idea either… #IndvNZ," Aakash Chopra's tweet read. 

Playing Shreyas Iyer wouldn’t have harmed anyone…instead going in a batter short. Also, batting first to challenge the bowlers in the second innings (dew expected) wouldn’t have been a bad idea either… #IndvNZ

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 28, 2026

New Zealand beat India by 50 runs in 4th T20I

After Tilak Varma was forced to withdraw from the India vs. New Zealand T20I series due to injury, Shreyas Iyer was brought in as an alternate. Unfortunately, he is still waiting for an opportunity; his chances seem slim for the final T20I of the series at Trivandrum. Sports broadcaster Aakash Chopra opined about the team's composition, saying that India made an error in judgment when they chose to bowl first; had they batted first, they would have placed pressure on the NZ bowlers, especially due to the dew factor being the significant decider later in the match.

New Zealand exploited the conditions by scoring 215 runs for 7 wickets in 20 overs after being inserted to bat by India. Tim Seifert led all scorers with 62 runs from 36 balls; Devon Conway contributed 44 runs to the score off 23 balls; Daryl Mitchell added 39 not out off 18 balls. As a result, India was all out for 165 runs in 18.4 overs (despite the best efforts of Shivam Dube, who scored an impressive 65 runs in 23 balls); this gave New Zealand their second consecutive T20I win over India (by 50 runs). Mitchell Santner led New Zealand's bowling attack with figures of 3 wickets for 26 runs.

The team management of India had to take a call on Tilak Varma, who recently underwent surgery. Varma was named in the squad for the ongoing India vs New Zealand 5-match T20I series. BCCI has released a fresh report, citing the current status of Varma, which is very crucial as the middle-order batter is also in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 squad.

For the first three matches of the bilateral 5-match T20I series, BCCI named Shreyas Iyer as the replacement of Varma. Iyer was not in the original squad. The selectors included him because of the medical condition of Tilak Varma.

Now, as the T20 World Cup 2026 is knocking on the door, set to start on February 7, the team management did not want to make any decision about Varma in a hurry. Thus, they have informed us that Iyer will continue with Team India for the remaining two matches of the 5-match T20I series against New Zealand, and Varma will work on his fitness.

Read More: Pakistan to boycott India clash in T20 World Cup 2026? Final decision to come at this time

On January 26, BCCI informed that Tilka Varma has started physical training at the BCCI Centre of Excellence and is progressing well. But he needs some more time to gain full match fitness for the flagship tournament of the International Cricket Council (ICC). As Varma remains on the sideline, Iyer will continue his T20I stint for the team for now. 

"Tilak Varma has resumed physical training and is making steady progress with his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. However, he will require additional time to regain full match fitness and will not be available for the final two T20Is of the ongoing IDFC First Bank five-match T20I series," BCCI informed. 

Tilak Varma is out from India vs New Zealand T20I series entirely

"Tilak will link up with the squad in Mumbai once he has regained full match fitness on 3rd February, ahead of India’s warm-up match for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026."

India has already claimed the T20I series by winning three back-to-back matches. The third win in Guwahati confirmed the winner of the series, which is Team India. The remaining two matches are now inconsequential, as the winner of the series is already confirmed. The India vs. New Zealand 3rd ODI will start on January 28 at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.

India’s selectors have chosen Shreyas Iyer to step in for Tilak Varma for the first three T20 matches against New Zealand. Tilak Varma was ruled out after getting injured early this year while playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Hyderabad, which forced the team to look for a replacement.

Shreyas Iyer is also making a comeback after spending time out due to injury. He recently returned to domestic cricket in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and has now joined the Indian side in the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. However, Iyer has not played T20 cricket for some time. He missed the full Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season in 2025–26 and last appeared in a T20I match more than two years ago.

In an official update, the BCCI confirmed that Shreyas Iyer has been added to the T20 squad for the opening three games in place of Tilak Varma.

Keeping this situation in mind, here are three other players, apart from Shreyas Iyer, who could have been considered as Tilak Varma’s replacement for the India vs New Zealand 2026 T20I series.

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3. Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad could have been a strong option for the squad because of his good T20I record and experience. He fits well into the No.3 or No.4 batting role that the team needs. In recent white-ball matches, Gaikwad has mostly played in the middle order and has improved his strike rate.

Over the last few years, he has changed his game. He is no longer just a steady batter but can score fast when needed. This is similar to the role Tilak Varma plays in the current T20I team.

Gaikwad can make good use of the powerplay and plays spin bowling well, which are important skills for a No.3 batter. He can stay at the crease and allow aggressive batters around him to play freely.

He also comes in with good match practice. Gaikwad played the full 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy and also featured in the ODI series against South Africa. Because of this, he had strong momentum that India could have used.

2. Devdutt Padikkal

Tilak Varma was not only a key batter for India but also the only left-handed batter in the middle order. With Shivam Dube not fitting well into the floating role, India depended on Tilak Varma to handle wrist spinners and left-arm spinners during the middle overs.

Even though India now focus less on left-right batting pairs, left-handed batters still offer value. If a similar left-handed option is available, it makes sense to consider it.

Devdutt Padikkal is currently one of the most in-form batters in India. He had an excellent 2025–26 Vijay Hazare Trophy season and also batted at No.3 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

In the domestic T20 tournament, he scored 309 runs in six matches at a high average and strike rate, including a century. His strong form, left-handed batting style, and overall improvement as a player made him a good choice to replace Tilak Varma.

1. Sarfaraz Khan

Sarfaraz Khan was a bold option who brings power and quick runs rather than stability. The Mumbai batter has grown fast as a white-ball player and has impressed with his performances.

Batting at No.3 for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Sarfaraz scored 329 runs in seven matches with a very high strike rate. He showed his aggressive style and ability to dominate attacks.

He plays spin bowling well and is especially good at using sweeps to trouble spinners. Since India will play many matches in subcontinent conditions, including the New Zealand T20Is and the T20 World Cup, a batter like Sarfaraz could have added variety to the batting lineup.

India could have used his energy, confidence, and strong form after a great domestic white-ball season.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has added the captain of the defending champions, Punjab Kings from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Shreyas Iyer, along with their one-time ICC number one T20I spinner, Ravi Bishnoi, in the T20I squad for the upcoming five encounters at home against New Zealand, beginning on January 21 in Nagpur. 

Bishnoi has been drafted into the Indiansquad as a replacement for Washington Sundar, who has been ruled out of the series with a side strain that he picked up during the opening ODI against the Black Caps in Vadodara. Meanwhile, Ayer replaces injured Tilak Varma, who has been out of the series for the first three games.

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Sundar underwent scans after reporting an accurate onset of discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI. This was followed by an in-person consultation with an expert, as he has been diagnosed with a side strain and has been advised rest for a few days, following which he will report to the BCCI Center of Excellence in Bengaluru for further management of the injury. 

Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi added to India's T20I squad 

Iyer, whose last T20I for the national side came nearly three years ago, has been at the top in the shortest format as he notched up 600 and four runs in IPL 2005 in 17 innings at an average of over fifty and a strike rate of more than 175, thanks to his six half-centuries at the best code of unbeaten 97 runs.

Bishnoi, who has picked up 61 wickets in 42 T20I matches for India at an economy rate of 7.35, featured in a 20-over game previously at the start of last year and the Asia Cup towards the end of the year. For the Lucknow Super Giants in the previous season of the IPL, he picked up nine wickets but went for an economy rate of nearly 11.

The opening T20I of the series against the Blackcaps will be played at Nagpur before the national sides make their way to Raipur, Guwahati, Visakhapatnam, and Thiruvattanampudam.   

The 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup began on January 15 with a match between India and USA. A total of 16 teams are taking part in the tournament, which is being played in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The event features some of the best young cricket talents from around the world.

India are the most successful team in Under-19 World Cup history, having won the title five times. Many fans will remember Prithvi Shaw, who led India to victory in the 2018 Under-19 World Cup. Before that, in 2008, a young Indian team led by Virat Kohli won the trophy in Malaysia.

Several current Indian stars first made their mark at the Under-19 World Cup. Players like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, Abhishek Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Kuldeep Yadav announced their arrival on the big stage through this tournament.

While most fans remember these well-known names, here is a list of five Indian players you may not know who also once represented India in the Under-19 World Cup.

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1. Arshdeep Singh

India’s highest wicket-taker in T20I cricket, Arshdeep Singh, was part of India’s Under-19 World Cup–winning team in 2018. The team was led by Prithvi Shaw, and the tournament was held in New Zealand.

Arshdeep played two matches in the competition and took three wickets. He bowled with great control and had an economy rate of just two runs per over. At the time, most of the attention was on fast bowlers Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi, who regularly touched 140 kmph, but Arshdeep was also part of the same strong pace group.

2. Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer represented India in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2014, which was hosted by the UAE. India finished fifth, while South Africa won the tournament.

Iyer played three matches and scored 161 runs at a strike rate of 105.22. The spotlight was mainly on players like Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Sarfaraz Khan, and Deepak Hooda, but Iyer made good use of his chances. He is now the vice-captain of India’s ODI team.

3. KL Rahul

KL Rahul, who is now known for handling pressure at the senior level, played in the Under-19 World Cup 2010. He batted at number three for India.

The team was led by Ashok Menaria, with Akshath Reddy and Mayank Agarwal opening the batting. India finished sixth after losing to South Africa in the fifth-place play-off. Rahul scored 143 runs in six innings at a strike rate of under 70.

4. Cheteshwar Pujara

Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara was the backbone of the Test team for many years. While he is known as a red-ball specialist, not many fans know that he was the top scorer in the Under-19 World Cup 2006.

Pujara scored 349 runs in six matches, averaging 116.33 with a strike rate of 82.11. Despite such a strong record at the youth level, he played only five ODIs for India in his senior career.

5. Stuart Binny

Stuart Binny, who once held the record for the best bowling figures by an Indian in ODIs, played in the Under-19 World Cup 2002.

The pace-bowling all-rounder featured in six matches, scoring 34 runs and taking four wickets. He made his senior India debut 12 years later and produced a memorable spell of 6/4 against Bangladesh in an ODI in 2014.

Kristian Clarke of New Zealand, a young fast bowler, made headlines around the world after taking down the Indian top-order in an ODI match in Rajkot. Three of the best players in Indian cricket history - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer - were taken down by Kristian Clarke, which is quite an accomplishment. Before this match, Kristian Clarke was not known outside domestic New Zealand competitions, but the way he played in this match has now brought him to everyone's attention.

The Indian batter did not expect Clarke to bowl with such accuracy and speed, using pace and cunning variations to keep them guessing. This early in his career, Clarke was exceptionally confident when bowling against some of the top players in the world and bowled with extreme discipline. His performance in Rajkot displays his incredible skill and potential for greatness as a limited overs bowler for New Zealand. The performance was praised by both fans and commentators alike because of its impact on world class players.

The emergence of young players like Kristian Clarke represents an increasing trend within International Cricket as more and more talented youngsters become part of the International Cricket stage. The increased opportunity and exposure to play in International Cricket has enabled bowlers to establish themselves in a way that may change the way we think about how bowlers fit into contracting and playing roles in white-ball cricket. Clarke not only demonstrated a great deal of skill and talent during his time in Rajkot but also showed that he has the character and temperament needed to be able to compete with some of the best batters in the world. At the age of just 23, Clarke has a very promising future ahead of him, and New Zealand selectors will be keeping a close eye on him as they plan for future international tours and world cups.

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Who is Kristian Clarke?

Clarke was born and raised in NZ and honed his skills locally through the domestic circuit before receiving his first international call-up. Early on he was a standout performer at the age group level before earning his place with the national team. Clarke is well known for his smooth bowling action, his capacity to create deception through very slight variations in pace and for being a combination of aggressive bowler with a very tactically astute mindset. Clarke has good accuracy and control which enables him to execute the strategies developed by his team, and as a result, he is an asset during both powerplays and death overs. Coaches that Clarke has had identify his ability to maintain discipline with both his line and length as being one of his most significant strengths.

After his fantastic performance against India, Clarke's future potential has never been greater. The bowling department is one area that NZ continues to develop and the addition of Clarke provides a new dimension to their pace bowling attack. With further experience, Clarke has the potential to be a mainstay within the NZ team and will also contribute during ODIs and T20Is. Clarke's success in Rajkot is proof that he can perform on the big stage and that given regular opportunities he could be developed into a frontline bowler capable of leading the NZ attack during major tournaments. Fans will be looking forward to watching Clarke's develop over the coming seasons.

The 2nd ODI between India and New Zealand is scheduled to take place on Wednesday at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot. India won the first ODI match by four wickets and led the series 1-0. New Zealand bat first and scored 300 runs in 50 overs. Daryl Mitchell scored 84 runs off 71 balls, supported by Henry Nicholls, who scored 62 runs off 69 balls. Mohammad Siraj, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna each took two wickets.

In response, India comfortably chased down the target in 49 overs. Indian superstar batsman Virat Kohli scored 93 runs off 91 balls, while Indian vice-captain Shreyas Iyer scored 49 runs off 47 balls. India's main concern was the death overs, where they conceded 88 runs in the final 10 overs, which they will work on improving for the second ODI

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IND vs NZ Match Details

• Match: India vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI

• Date: 14th January 2025

• Time: 1.30 PM IST

• Venue: Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot

• Live Streaming: FanCode

IND vs NZ Weather Report

IND vs NZ Pitch Report

The pitch at Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot is highly favorable to batters and is a venue conducive to high-scoring. Fast bowlers can expect good bounce and carry due to the red soil pitch being quite similar to the one used in the last match.

Top Batters to Watch – IND vs NZ

• Virat Kohli (IND): 93 runs in this Series 

• Daryl Mitchell (NZ): 84 runs in this Series 

• Henry Nicholls (NZ): 62 runs in this Series 

Top Bowlers to Watch – IND vs NZ

• Kyle Jamieson (NZ): 4 wickets in this Series 

• Mohammad Siraj (IND): 2 wickets in this Series 

• Harshit Rana (IND): 2 wickets in this Series 

IND vs NZ Recent Form

IND vs NZ Today Match Prediction Scenarios

Scenario 1: If IND Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 50–60

• Predicted Total: 320–350

• Match Result: IND to win

Scenario 2: If NZ Bat First

• Powerplay Score: 45–55

• Predicted Total: 260–285

• Match Result: IND to win

Who Will Hit the Most Sixes?

Who Will Hit the Most Fours?

IND vs NZ Predicted Playing XIs

India

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.

New Zealand 

Devon Conway, Henry Nicholls, Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Hay (wk), Michael Bracewell (c), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Adithya Ashok.

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

We predict that India will win the 2nd ODI match. The likes of Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul will be key players to watch out for.

IND vs NZ Match FAQs

Team India got a commanding victory in the opening match of the 3-match ODI series against New Zealand (IND vs NZ ODI). India won the match by chasing a total of 300 runs. Shreyas Iyer, who made a return after a serious rib injury, played brilliantly well with the bat in the match.

He missed a half-century by only 1 run. Ahead of the India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI match, the right-handed batter is on the brink of a massive record in the format. 

To achieve the record, Iyer will have to score only 34 runs. As he has been in good form, this record is considered only an innings away from him. According to the stats, Iyer needs just 34 runs to encrypt his name into the record books, a feat that would place him among the quickest Indians to reach 3,000 runs in ODI cricket, breaking former India opener Shikhar Dhawan's record.

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Shreyas Iyer can become the fastest Indian to score 3,000 ODI runs

The second match of the ODI series between India and New Zealand will be played in Rajkot on January 14. Dhawan completed 3,000 ODI runs in 72 innings. Virat Kohli is in second place, having reached 3,000 runs in 75 innings, and KL Rahul, who did the same in 78 innings, holds the third spot in the record list.

If Shreyas scores 34 runs in the upcoming match, he will reach 3,000 ODI runs in 69 innings, becoming the fastest Indian player to reach 3,000 ODI runs, based on innings. Overall, legendary West Indian batter Sir Viv Richards also achieved this feat in just 69 innings.

Fastest Indian to score 3000 runs in ODI cricket

• Shikhar Dhawan - 72 innings
• Virat Kohli - 75 innings
• KL Rahul - 78 innings
• Navjot Singh Sidhu - 79 innings
• Sourav Ganguly - 82 innings

Indiastarted their campaign of 2026 with a strong and clinical victory during the opening ODI of the three-match series against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. A video from the 301-run chase went viral, featuring Shreyas Iyer’s massive six, which was accompanied by the Bhojpuri commentary. The video quickly gained popularity on social media platforms. 

In the first innings, New Zealand posted a strong score of 300 runs in their allotted 50 overs for the loss of eight wickets. It happened on the back of the 117-run opening partnership between Devon Conway and Henry Nicholas, both of whom celebrated their respective half-centuries.

See Also: Watch: Virat Kohli celebrates 76th ODI half-century during IND vs NZ 1st ODI

Conway clubbed 56 runs, while Nicholas drilled 62 runs before Daryl Mitchell provided them with the flurry of boundaries towards the end to nail 84 runs in 71 balls at a strike rate of 118.31, thanks to five boundaries and three sixes. However, India used the pace variations well to keep the visitors to 300.

Shreyas Iyer's six with Bhojpuri commentary goes viral 

India was stuck early in the chase as Rohit Sharma, the premium opening batter, returned to the pavilion for 26 runs in 29 balls. At the same time, their captain, Shubman Gill, smacked a decent knock of 56 runs in 71 balls, scoring three boundaries and a couple of sixes at a strike rate of nearly 80.

Watch the vide here:

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Later, Virat Kohli dashed a fine knock of 93 runs in 91 balls at a strike rate of 102.20, thanks to eight boundaries and one six, while Shreyas Iyer also recorded a fine knock of 49 runs in 47 balls, thanks to four boundaries and one six at a strike rate of 104.26.

Meanwhile, KL Rahul’s undefeated 29 runs in 21 balls with two boundaries and one six, along with Harshit Rana’s special knock of 29 runs in 23 balls, completed the successful chase of India by four wickets in 49 overs to take the lead by a 1-0 margin. 

Brief Score: India 306/6 (Virat Kohli 93, Shubman Gill 56, Kyle Jamieson 4/41) beat New Zealand 300/8 (Dayle Mitchell 84, Henry Nicholas 62, Mohammad Siraj 2/40) by 4 wickets.