India remains a firm favourite for the T20 World Cup 2026 despite suffering a heavy 50-run defeat to New Zealand in Vizag, a result that briefly exposed the risks of experimentation. The hosts went in with a six-batter, five-bowler combination and were made to pay as New Zealand’s aggressive batting and disciplined bowling turned the contest on its head. Still, one result is unlikely to shake a side that has dominated this World Cup cycle, winning close to 80 per cent of their T20Is and sitting comfortably ahead of Australia in the standings.

For the fifth and final T20I in Thiruvananthapuram, India’s last international fixture before the global tournament, the team management is expected to revert to a largely first-choice XI. With Washington Sundar and Tilak Varma unavailable, the balance may tweak slightly, but the intent is clear: build rhythm and momentum heading into the T20 World Cup.

As the saying goes, winning is a habit, and this Indian side has made a habit of starting fast and staying ruthless. Vizag, however, wasn’t without positives. Kuldeep Yadav found his groove with the ball, while Sanju Samson showed signs of rediscovering timing and confidence. Abhishek Sharma’s golden duck raised eyebrows, but the left-hander stayed true to his ultra-aggressive template.

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That fearless approach is exactly what captain Suryakumar Yadav and the coaching group want, even if it comes with occasional failures. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed that while Abhishek is encouraged to trust his instincts, there is ongoing dialogue about match-ups, bowler pace, and risk management. 

From New Zealand’s perspective, the Vizag win felt like a timely reward after a bruising tour. Senior pacer Matt Henry admitted the learning curve has been steep but believes the pressure of bowling to India’s power-packed top order will stand the Black Caps in good stead at the World Cup.  The visitors will be further strengthened by the return of Finn Allen, whose explosive partnership with Tim Seifert adds another layer of firepower to counter India’s aggressive style.

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With momentum up for grabs, the Thiruvananthapuram decider promises a high-scoring finish to the series. Mitchell Santner has already hinted at another flat surface and small boundaries, and history supports that view. The centre pitch has been rolled out, and the last time India played here, they piled up a daunting 235. Expect another run-fest as both teams look to fine-tune their combinations before the real battle begins on the world stage.

India

India are set to receive timely boosts ahead of the fifth and final T20I, with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirming that Ishan Kishan is “most likely” to return to the XI after missing the previous game due to a minor niggle. All-rounder Axar Patel, sidelined for the last three T20Is with a sore bowling hand, is also back in contention. Both players were among the first to take throwdowns during the optional practice session on the eve of the match, signalling positive progress in their recoveries.

With the T20 World Cup around the corner, the team management may also manage workloads. Hardik Pandya, who has featured in four consecutive matches, could be rested as India look to balance match sharpness with player fitness ahead of a packed schedule.

Probable XI: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh

New Zealand

New Zealand are expected to freshen up their top order as well. Finn Allen, who has rejoined the squad after fulfilling his Big Bash League commitments, is likely to partner Tim Seifert at the top, potentially replacing Devon Conway. There remains uncertainty over Michael Bracewell’s availability, with the all-rounder still recovering from a minor left-calf strain picked up during the ODI series in Indore.

Probable XI: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Zakary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy