Cricket
India and New Zealand head into the 5th T20I with India having already sealed the series, but the final match remains an important tune-up before T20 World Cup 2026.
India may look to rest Hardik Pandya due to workload management, especially with the marquee tournament approaching and his injury history in mind.
Pandya did not bowl in the previous game and featured only as a batter, which strengthens the possibility of India giving him a break in the final T20I.
Axar Patel has missed most of the series due to a finger injury but has been bowling in the nets and is expected to be available for the Trivandrum game.
With Axar being India’s T20I vice-captain, the team management could bring him straight back into the XI, with Harshit Rana likely to make way.
Ishan Kishan, who sat out the 4th T20I due to a niggle, is expected to be fit and could return after scoring 112 runs at a strike rate of 224 in the series.
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (Wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakaravarthy.
Cricket