India playing XI vs New Zealand, 5th T20I, 2026- Bumrah out, Kishan to replace Samson?

India probable XI for 5th T20I [Source: AFP Photo]

In a surprising turn of events, New Zealand produced a rare magic moment as they defeated the Indian side to avoid a series whitewash in the fourth T20I. The Kiwis were given a brief scare by Shivam Dube and his onslaught, but that was not enough as the visitors captured their first victory of the T20I series.

The fifth T20I will also be a dead rubber as India have the series in their bag, but it provides the hosts an opportunity to test their team strength and make a couple of changes to give rest to some of their star players. Here is India’s probable XI for the 5th T2OI Vs New Zealand.

Top order: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson? Suryakumar Yadav

Will Ishan Kishan replace Samson?

Four matches played, and four failures for Sanju Samson in the ongoing T20I series. The team management gave him chance after chance to grab the opening slot, but on flat wickets, Samson failed to seize the opportunity, and now his World Cup place hangs in jeopardy.

(Samson vs NZ)

• The strike rate of 142 doesn’t tell the whole story. Samson has been poor throughout the series and has failed to deliver the goods, scoring only 40 runs in four games.
• Even in the last match, when the Kerala batter had a chance to get some runs under his belt, he failed in the process. Hence, there is a section of Indian fans who want Ishan Kishan to replace Samson at the top.
• One must remember that Kishan suffered a slight niggle in the 3rd T20I and missed the last match. Even if he is fit, India might not take any risks, and Samson could be given one last chance to redeem himself before the World Cup.
• Abhishek Sharma should be the first name on the teamsheet, and with India experimenting with their lineup, Suryakumar Yadav could play at number 3, something which he did in the last game as well.

Middle-order: Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh

• Shivam Dube came out of the syllabus for New Zealand in the last game as he almost pulled off a win from the jaws of defeat, and the all-rounder will be oozing with confidence. So will be Hardik Pandya, who needs some rest, but there is no replacement available.
• There is Axar Patel warming the bench, but he got injured earlier in the series, and just like Kishan, team management won’t risk him even if he is fit. Then comes Rinku Singh, who has been vital for India in the middle-overs and can be used as a finisher by the side.

Bowlers: Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, no place for Bumrah?

Harshit Rana is a good enough batter to hold his fort at number 7. In the World Cup, he will bat at 8, but since India is experimenting with 5 proper bowlers, he will play at 7.

Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravi Bishnoi will be the two spinners, but India could sprung a surprise by resting Jasprit Bumrah for this contest. Bumrah is India’s best bowler. and the management could rest him for the dead rubber before the World Cup. Also, he is going through a rough patch and the stats reveal the story.

(Bumrah vs NZ)

• In three matches, he only has 4 wickets to showcase, and while an economy of 7.64 is considerably decent in T20Is, it is generally higher for Bumrah, who has set high standards.
• In his place, India can bring in Varun Chakravarthy, as the spinner also needs game time before the World Cup. With Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana as the two pacers, India can afford to go in with Bishnoi, Chakravarthy, and Kuldeep as the three spinners in the playing XI.

India's probable XI for 5th T20I

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy