'Losing the toss made a difference' - Hanuma Vihari on India's loss in 5th T20I to New Zealand

New Zealand defeated India by 7 wickets in the fifth T20I at Hamilton on November 1, 2026, with the hosts chasing down India's total of 191 for 8 in 18 overs. The loss came after India had already secured the five-match series 3-1, making this encounter a dead-rubber contest. Adam Milne was named Player of the Match for his bowling performance as New Zealand reached 195 for 3.

Hanuma Vihari offered a detailed assessment of India's batting performance and the conditions that shaped the match outcome. The former India batter highlighted how the toss decision influenced the course of the game, with New Zealand's choice to field first proving advantageous given the pitch and weather conditions at the venue.

"I think India losing the toss made a difference. The ball was moving off the pitch initially. Abhishek was early into the shot. He was hasty and it hit the bottom of his bat," Vihari said in a video on his YouTube channel.

"At Hamilton, the breeze also helped, and Adam Milne made use of that initial swing. Samson also stays deep in the crease and lets the ball swing. He should not have tried to play across the line," he added.

How did the toss and conditions affect India's batting?

Vihari identified specific technical issues in India's batting approach during the powerplay and middle overs. Abhishek Sharma's dismissal came from a hasty stroke that failed to connect cleanly, while Sanju Samson's wicket resulted from an aggressive cross-bat attempt that departed from his usual defensive method. Vihari noted that Samson's approach was particularly problematic given his natural tendency to allow the ball to swing past the bat.

Varun Chakaravarthy replaced Axar Patel in India's playing eleven for this match, but the spinner struggled to make an impact against New Zealand's batting. Vihari explained the challenges Chakaravarthy faced during his spell, particularly when facing Glenn Phillips in the middle overs.

"It was a rare failure for Abhishek. Sanju was inconsistent in this series. Again, there were some failures. They played Varun in place of Axar. He was okay in the first two overs, but Phillips targeted him. He was bowling at the same pace, and when there is no turn off the surface, he gets slightly exposed," he added.

What positives did India take from the series?

Despite the loss, Vihari identified several positive performances from India's squad across the series. He highlighted the contributions of multiple batters and bowlers who showed promise during the five-match campaign, suggesting that the team had developed depth in key areas.

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"What are the positives for India? I think Abhishek was one. Shreyas Iyer the batter. Tilak was outstanding under pressure. Nitish had an average series, not an excellent one, but he was decent," Vihari said.

"Naman Dhir was good. In bowling, I thought Prince was decent. Mayank was decent. Arshdeep did well in bits and pieces. Vaibhav also got a 40 in one match. Vaibhav is getting there. In the chances he gets, he is doing well. There is no harm in waiting," he added.