![Bhuvneshwar Kumar was added in India T20I squad vs WI [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1792141586420_BhuvneshwarKumarwasaddedinIndiaT20IsquadvsWI.jpg?type=hq)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was added in India T20I squad vs WI [Source: AFP]
The Indian team suffered a defeat in the 4th T20I against the West Indies in Hyderabad, and now, the series is evenly poised at 2-2 as the caravan moves towards the grand finale in Bengaluru.
Nothing went right for Shreyas Iyer’s India as the West Indies posted 247/3, courtesy of a record-breaking century from Shai Hope. Moreover, barring Sanju Samson, none of the batters delivered the goods as the hosts lost the match by 24 runs.
The Shreyas Iyer-led side will aim to bounce back after the Hyderabad drubbing, and here is India’s predicted playing XI for the 5th T20I.
Openers and top order: Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan
Sanju Samson delivered the goods in the 4th T20I match, and India will hope he can continue the good form in the 5th T20I as India needs a fiery start from their openers.
Abhishek Sharma had a rare failure in the last game, and if India is to win a big total, they need the destructive southpaw to play a big innings, and the match result will depend on how he plays inside the powerplay.
Just like Abhishek, Ishan Kishan, too, had an off day, and the southpaw will relish playing on a relatively flat Chinnaswamy Stadium surface as he aims to regain his touch in the middle.
Middle order and all-rounders: Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel
Shreyas Iyer failed with the bat in the 4th T20I match, and with the series on the line, the Indian T20I captain will need to step up on the big night to help his team win the series.
Tilak Varma will play the role of a finisher in the 5th T20I, and in the last few matches, the southpaw has done well for the Men in Blue. He has the ability to take down the bowling with ease, and the batter will fancy his chances in the smaller Chinnaswamy stadium.
India’s joint wicket-taker in the ongoing series, Naman Dhir, has impressed with the ball, but the same cannot be said about his batting. He was dismissed for a duck in the last game, and the batter will need to produce an improved show in the 5th T20I.
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One change that the Indian side might make is to bring back Shivam Dube in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy. Nitish was unimpressive in the 4th T20I, especially with the ball, and with the bat, he struggled to accelerate at the start. Instead, Dube will bring more reliability and experience.
Time is running out for Axar Patel as the all-rounder has struggled for runs and wickets. However, the management will back him for the 5th T20I.
Bowlers: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was added as cover for the injured Arshdeep Singh. The Indian left-arm seamer sustained an injury in the 4th T20I, and despite being kept in the side, he might not play as India could go in with Bhuvneshwar in the XI.
Prince Yadav has blown hot and cold, but India don't have too many options to replace him, and he'll get one more game to prove his worth.
Mayank Yadav has followed the same footsteps as Prince, and barring one solid spell in the ongoing series, Mayank has failed to deliver the goods, not only with the ball, but on the field as well.
India Predicted Playing XI vs West Indies – 5th T20I, 2026
Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav
