In the fifth T20, India has set a target of 272 runs for New Zealand. After playing first, Team India scored 271 runs after losing 5 wickets in 20 overs. This is India’s third highest score in T20 International. For India, Ishan Kishan scored a century in just 42 balls. Ishaan hit 10 sixes and 6 fours.

Ishan Kishan for India 103 runs in 43 balls, captain Suryakumar Yadav scored 63 runs in 30 balls and Hardik Pandya scored 42 runs in 17 balls. Team India hit a total of 23 sixes and 17 fours. Three New Zealand bowlers gave more than 50 runs. Captain Mitchell Santner was the most expensive. He spent 60 runs in 4 overs.

Sanju Samson’s bat did not work at home

The fifth T20 match between India and New Zealand is being played at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. This is the home ground of Indian opener Sanju Samson, but even here Samson could not do wonders. Samson was out after scoring six runs in six balls. Along with him, Abhishek Sharma played an inning of 30 runs in 16 balls. During this he hit 4 fours and 2 sixes.

India scored 188 runs in the last 11 overs

Team India, who came to bat first after winning the toss, scored 171 runs in the last 10 overs. Ishaan hit 10 sixes and 6 fours in his innings of 103 runs in 43 balls. Suryakumar Yadav hit 4 fours and 6 sixes in his innings of 63 runs in 30 balls. Whereas Hardik Pandya hit one four and 4 sixes in his innings of 42 runs in 17 balls. In the powerplay i.e. in the first 6 overs, India had scored 54 runs after losing one wicket.

You will be surprised to know that after 9 overs, India’s score was only 82 runs for 2 wickets. Then it did not seem that Team India would even cross the score of 200, but Team India scored 188 runs in the last 11 overs and made its third highest total in T20 International.

Aakash Chopra on Sanju Samson: Should Team India get Sanju Samson to open in T20 World Cup 2026 or not? This question has currently surrounded the Team India management from all sides. Samson’s poor form continued in the fifth T20 match against New Zealand, where he was out after scoring only 6 runs. Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Akash Chopra has trolled Samson.

Akash Chopra trolled

While commentating during the India vs New Zealand fifth T20 match played in Thiruvananthapuram, Aakash Chopra compared Sanju Samson to Ishan Kishan. While talking to him, he said that the selection of Ishan Kishan in the playing eleven can be more beneficial for Team India.

Aakash Chopra said, “Will you wait for good days or feed someone who is having good days? Ishaan Kishan is having good days.”

Sanju Samson’s bad figures

In the year 2025, from January till now, Sanju Samson has been out 10 times in T20 cricket even before the end of the powerplay. In the last one year, Samson could not stay at the crease till the end of the powerplay 10 times out of 14. At the same time, within the last one year, not a single fifty has come from his bat.

Samson has opened in all five matches of the T20 series against New Zealand. His highest score in these 5 matches was 24 runs, which he made in Vizag. In the five innings played in the series, he could score only 46 runs and the average was only 9.2. On the other hand, Ishan Kishan’s bat is roaring very well. He could not play the fourth T20, but scored 112 runs in the first three matches. In this entire series, he batted with a stormy strike rate of 224 in the first 3 innings.

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Arjun Tendulkar created a new record, came close to breaking his father Sachin Tendulkar’s record.

The fifth and last match of the five-match T20 series being played between India and New Zealand will be played on Saturday (January 31). By winning this match, Team India would like to end the series with victory. Earlier on Wednesday, Team India had to face defeat by 50 runs in the fourth T20 played in Visakhapatnam.

However, the thing to note is that Team India, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, has got its name written on the series by winning the first 3 matches. But keeping in mind the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, the Indian team would like to win the fifth T20 against New Zealand.

This is the last T20 series for Team India before the T20 World Cup. Through this series, Men in Blue would like to finalize its preparations. The fifth T20 will be played at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Now it will be interesting to see how the Indian team performs in the fifth T20. Some changes may be seen in India’s playing 11 in this match.

Last match before T20 World Cup

After this, Team India under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav will take the field for the T20 World Cup. The tournament will start from 07 February. The Indian team will also start its campaign in the World Cup from this day. Team India will play its first match against USA at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Indian squad for T20 series

Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Varun Chakraborty.

New Zealand’s squad for T20 series

Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Santner (captain), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Zachary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Lockie Ferguson, Bevan Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson.

The fifth T20 between India and New Zealand is at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. The Indian team would like to end the series with a win in the match. Earlier on Wednesday, Team India had to face defeat in the fourth match of the series played in Visakhapatnam.

Now Team India, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, will try to end the series 4-1 by winning the fifth T20. Some changes may also be seen in India’s playing 11 for the last T20. Ishan Kishan may return to the team. Apart from this, Shreyas Iyer may also get a chance. Whereas wicketkeeper batsman Sanju Samson can be dropped from the playing 11.

Sanju has flopped badly in all four matches so far. In the first ODI played in Nagpur, Sanju returned to the pavilion after scoring only 10 runs. After this, in the second T20 held in Raipur, Samson could score only 06 runs. The limit was reached when he was out on zero runs in the third match in Guwahati. Even after this, Sanju was trusted and included in the fourth T20. But even in the fourth match he could score only 24 runs.

Preparation for T20 World Cup

Let us tell you that the ongoing T20 series against New Zealand is the last series for India before the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. However, the thing to note is that the Indian team has won the series by winning the first 3 matches. But Team India had to face defeat in the fourth match.

Indian squad for T20 series

Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Varun Chakraborty.

New Zealand’s squad for T20 series

Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Mitchell Santner (captain), Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Zachary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, James Neesham, Michael Bracewell, Lockie Ferguson, Bevan Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson.

The last match of the 5-match T20 series between India and New Zealand will be played today at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Earlier 4 T20 International matches have been played here. Sanju Samson would like to play a big innings in front of his home crowd today, he has so far flopped in all four matches of this series. His cutouts have been installed outside the stadium. The video of MS Dhoni’s cutout is also going viral on social media.

A 50 feet high cutout of former Indian captain MS Dhoni has been installed outside the Greenfield International Stadium, the video of which is going viral on social media. Although Dhoni has fans everywhere in the country, but the craze for him in the South is of a different level.

Scenes of a Giant Cutout being made for Real OG MS Dhoni & Sanju Samson at Kerala!! pic.twitter.com/sQHCl8L50v

— Suhii7 (@Suhii7__) January 31, 2026

How is the T20 record in Greenfield Stadium?

A total of 4 T2 International matches have been played so far in the Greenfield International Stadium. The first T20 here took place between India and New Zealand on November 7, 2017, in which India won by 6 runs. After this, in the second match played here, West Indies defeated India by 8 wickets. In the third match, India defeated South Africa by 8 wickets and in the fourth match, Australia defeated Australia by 44 runs. That means out of total 4 matches here, India has won 3 and lost 1.

What time will IND vs NZ 5th T20 start?

India vs New Zealand fifth T20 will start today (January 31) at 7 pm. The toss will take place at 6:30 pm. Team India is maintaining an unassailable lead in the series. Under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav, the team defeated New Zealand in the first 3 matches, New Zealand won the fourth match. India is ahead 3-1.

Where to watch live cricket match

India vs New Zealand fifth T20 will be telecast live on Star Sports Network. Live streaming will be on JioHotstar app and website.