New Zealand playing XI vs India, 5th T20I, 2026- Finn Allen to replace Rachin Ravindra?

New Zealand's last T20I vs India will be played on January 31 [Source: Blackcaps/X.com]

New Zealand locks horns with India for the fifth and final T20I of their tour to conclude their T20 World Cup preparations at Thiruvananthapuram on January 31, at 7 pm (IST).

Having lost the series in the first three games, the Kiwis did well in the fourth T20I to secure a much-needed win in Visakhapatnam, courtesy of an all-round effort from the players.

Tim Seifert started off the game with a quick-fire 62 off 36, which was backed up by the rest of the batters before the bowling, led by Mitchell Santner’s 3-fer, dismantled India for 165 runs, winning the match by 50. As they play their final T20I before the mega event, here’s a look at their probable XI.

Top-order: Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wk)

The explosive Finn Allen has made his much-anticipated return to the Blackcaps camp after a successful BBL campaign, finishing as the leading run-getter (466 runs) with 38 sixes to his name. He is expected to start in the XI alongside Devon Conway at the top after his 44 off 23 in the last match.

While Tim Seifert is also an opener and has been in great form for a considerable amount of time, he can slot in at number 3 and exploit the end of the powerplay and the middle overs. He will also be keeping the wickets.

Middle order: Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c)

Glenn Phillips has been in impeccable touch throughout this tour, scoring a hundred in the decider and is also the second-highest run-scorer of this series with 169 runs at a strike rate of 155.04. He will continue to bat at 4, followed by Mark Chapman, who has been blowing hot and cold but is among the mainstays of this lineup.

The ODI player of the series, who got a swashbuckling 39*(18) in their last win with three sixes and two fours, will bat at 6, despite fans and experts calling for his promotion to number 3. The long batting line-up will end with captain Mitchell Santner, who has been striking at a rate of 177.94 since January 2025.

Bowlers: Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy

In the absence of Jimmy Neesham and Michael Bracewell, the 23-year-old Zak Foulkes has taken up the role of the second all-rounder alongside Santner and played two matches of the series so far. Considering no update on Bracwell’s availability, Foulkes is likely to continue at 8 after his 1/29 (3) in the last match.

The frontline pacers will be Matt Henry and Jacob Duffy. The latter is the leading wicket-taker of the series with 5 scalps in 4 innings with the best figures of 2/27 after his record-breaking 2025 year. On the other hand, Henry will be opening the bowling after playing a crucial role in their last win by dismissing world number 1, Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck.

Ish Sodhi will be the second spinner of the line-up, as he approaches Tim Southee’s record 164 wickets as their highest T20I wicket-taker. Currently, he sits at 162, with 5 wickets in 4 innings of this series. He is the joint-highest wicket-taker of the series with Duffy.

New Zealand probable XI Vs India

Finn Allen, Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wk), Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitch Santner(c), Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy