.jpg?type=hq)
Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson - (Source: AFP)
New Zealand finally opened their account against India after a comprehensive win in the 4th T20I. The Kiwis beat the Men in Blue by 87 runs to end their 8-year-long wait for a win over India in New Zealand.
The caravan now shifts to Hamilton, which will host the 5th and final T20I of the series. Both teams will look to finish the series on a high. For India, they made a couple of changes in the last match, and the fans are curious about the playing XI for the 5th T20I.
Therefore, this article will shed light on India's predicted playing XI vs New Zealand – 5th T20I, 2026.
Openers and Top order: Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan
Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma will open the innings for India because Ishan Kishan is back in the side. Samson struggled in the last T20I and scored just 4 (2). Abhishek Sharma also failed to replicate his past heroics and returned to the pavilion after scoring 27 (15).
Ishan Kishan marked his first game since injury and registered the fourth duck of his T20I career. Nonetheless, he will start ahead of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Middle order and all-rounders: Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube
Shreyas Iyer will bat at No.4. In the 4th T20I, Iyer didn’t score enough with the bat, but he broke Rohit Sharma’s feat for most runs in a calendar year as a captain. Naman Dhir has been impressive in the series and has already amassed 105 runs in 4 innings, averaging 52.50.
Tilak Varma has been India’s best experiment in the series as he has really adapted to his new role as India's finisher and has 93 runs in 4 innings, averaging 46.50.
Rest, Nitish Kumar Reddy had a night to forget in the 4th T20I, but he will still be the leading all-rounder in the Indian team even for the 5th T20I. Axar Patel is likely to make way for Shivam Dube.
The DC captain is having a nightmare of a series as he has only amassed just 42 runs in 3 innings and picked up 3 wickets in 4 innings.
Bowlers: Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh
Among the bowlers, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh will take charge. Mayank took a three-wicket haul in the 4th T20I. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will continue to sit on the bench.
The bowlers were blamed for India’s defeat in the 4th T20I, but the pace trio will be backed for another game.
India Predicted Playing XI vs New Zealand – 5th T20I, 2026
Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh
