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The India vs New Zealand series has reached its final destination. After a brief detour in Visakhapatnam, where the Kiwis finally tasted victory, the action shifts to the southern tip of India, Thiruvananthapuram, for the 5th and final T20I.

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While the series is already in India’s bag with a 3-1 lead, the last match is far from a dead rubber. For Suryakumar Yadav and his men, it is the final dress rehearsal before the mega event, the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which kicks off next month.

Men in Blue sealed the India vs New Zealand series in Guwahati but stumbled in the 4th T20I, losing by 50 runs as their bowling experiment didn't quite go to plan. New Zealand, on the other hand, showed great character to avoid a whitewash. Riding on a brilliant opening stand between Tim Seifert and Devon Conway, they posted a massive total and defended it clinically.

Now, the spotlight turns to the Greenfield International Stadium, where the local hero, Sanju Samson, will be the centre of attraction. With the crowd cheering for their home boy, Samson will be desperate to fire and end the series on a high.

Key Players to Watch – India

Sanju Samson: All eyes will be on the local lad. It hasn't been the best India vs New Zealand series for him with the bat, but playing in front of his home crowd in Thiruvananthapuram could be just the spark he needs. A big knock here would be the perfect confidence booster before the World Cup.

Suryakumar Yadav: The captain has led from the front throughout the series. After a rare failure in the last game, SKY will be keen to sign off with another match-winning performance and lift the trophy on a winning note.

Varun Chakravarthy: Expected to return to the side after being rested, the mystery spinner will enjoy the conditions in Kerala. His ability to choke runs in the middle overs could be the difference-maker.

Expected Playing XI – India

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav

Key Players to Watch – New Zealand

Tim Seifert: The wicketkeeper-batter was the architect of New Zealand's win in the last game with a blistering 62. His aggressive start at the top will once again be crucial if the Kiwis want to challenge the Indian bowlers.

Glenn Phillips: He has been the most consistent batter for the visitors this tour. Phillips has fought lone battles in previous games and will look to finish the series with another impactful inning.

Mitchell Santner: The Kiwi skipper finally got the result he wanted in Vizag. He will look to use his experience to exploit the conditions and ensure his team heads into the World Cup with back-to-back wins against the world’s best.

Expected Playing XI – New Zealand

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

Match Details: India vs New Zealand, 5th T20I

Date: Tomorrow (Saturday, January 31, 2026)

Time: 7:00 PM IST

Venue: Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram

Pitch Report

The surface at the Greenfield Stadium is generally known to be bowler-friendly, but recent games have seen good runs being scored. Fans can expect a balanced India vs New Zealand contest where batters will get value for their shots, but spinners will definitely come into play as the game progresses.

Weather Forecast

The weather in Thiruvananthapuram is expected to be warm and humid. There are no signs of rain, so fans can gear up for a full 40 overs of entertainment to close out the series.

India vs New Zealand Streaming Details

Fans can catch the live action of the India vs New Zealand 5th T20I on the Star Sports Network and JioHotstar.