IND vs NZ 5th T20I Live: Match Preview, Playing XI, Score & Updates | India vs New Zealand 2026

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By Trending News Fox News Desk Team, Published: January 31, 2026

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Here are the latest live updates for IND vs NZ 5th T20I (as of Jan 31, 2026):

India has officially clinched the 5th T20I in Thiruvananthapuram, ending the series with a dominant 4-1 victory! The match concluded with India’s bowlers finishing the job after the historic batting performance earlier.

Final Match Result: India won by 46 runs

• India: 271/5 (20 overs)
• New Zealand: 225/10 (20 overs)

Second Innings Wrap-Up

Despite a valiant effort from the Kiwis, the target of 272 proved too steep.

• The Arshdeep Show: After a rough start (conceding 40 in his first two overs), Arshdeep Singh made an incredible comeback to claim his maiden T20I five-wicket haul (5/51).
• Spin Twins Strike: Axar Patel was the architect of the middle-order collapse, finishing with clinical figures of 3/33, including the crucial wicket of Finn Allen. Varun Chakaravarthy chipped in with a wicket as well.
• NZ Resistance: Finn Allen was the lone warrior for the Blackcaps, smashing a brutal 80 off 38 balls. Ish Sodhi provided some late entertainment for the crowd, hitting a quickfire 33 off 14 balls* including three sixes.
• The Final Wicket: The match ended in the final over as India cleaned up the tail, securing a massive win to head into the T20 World Cup with high confidence.

Series Honours

• Series Result: India wins 4-1.
• Suryakumar Yadav Milestone: During the match, he became the fastest player ever to reach 3,000 T20I runs (by balls faced).

Top Performers of the Match

With the series wrapped up, the focus now shifts entirely to the T20 World Cup.

Match Video Below:

The 5th T20I in Thiruvananthapuram has turned into a clinical performance by the Indian bowlers following a record-breaking batting display. New Zealand’s chase has stumbled significantly after a fiery start.

Live Score: New Zealand 142/5 (12.4 Overs)

• Target: 272 runs
• Current Batters: Daryl Mitchell (5*) and Bevon Jacobs (1*)
• Required Run Rate: 17.73
• Current Run Rate: 11.21

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Latest Match Developments

• The Collapse: New Zealand was cruising at 117/1 thanks to Finn Allen’s heroics, but they have since lost 4 wickets for just 20 runs.
• Axar Patel’s Game-Changer: Axar broke the dangerous partnership by dismissing Finn Allen (80 off 38 balls) and then sent back Glenn Phillips (7) shortly after.
• Arshdeep’s Double Strike: Arshdeep Singh returned to the attack and dismantled the middle order in the 12th over, dismissing both Rachin Ravindra (30) and the Kiwi captain Mitchell Santner (0).
• India’s Dominance: With the required rate now nearing 18 runs per over, India is firmly in the driver’s seat to secure a 4-1 series victory.

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Batting Summary (India)

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Upcoming Milestone

Suryakumar Yadav officially became the fastest player in history to reach 3,000 T20I runs (in terms of balls faced) during his innings earlier tonight.

Finn Allen is currently putting on a clinic in Thiruvananthapuram, keeping the Kiwi hope alive against all odds! Here is the latest from the ground:

Current Score: New Zealand 98/1 (7.4 Overs)

• Target: 272 runs
• Current Batters: Finn Allen 65 (30)* | Rachin Ravindra 12 (9)*
• Required Run Rate: 14.11
• Current Run Rate: 12.78

Second Innings Highlights

• Finn Allen’s Firepower: Allen is on a rampage. He reached his fifty in just 22 balls, taking a particular liking to Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy. He’s already cleared the ropes 5 times and hit 7 boundaries.
• Tough Night for Arshdeep: After a wicket on the final ball of his first over, Arshdeep was hammered in his second, conceding 23 runs in that over alone.
• The Stand: Since the early loss of Tim Seifert (5), Allen and Rachin Ravindra have stabilized the chase, but the mountain of 272 remains daunting.

Quick Look Back: India’s Historic Total (271/5)

• Ishan Kishan: 103 off 43 balls (10 sixes) – his maiden T20I century.
• Suryakumar Yadav: 63 off 30 balls.
• Hardik Pandya: 42 off 17 balls.

Match Context

New Zealand needs 174 runs from the remaining 74 balls. It’s still India’s game to lose, but Finn Allen is making sure the Thiruvananthapuram crowd gets a show worth every penny.

New Zealand has just begun their pursuit of the massive 272-run target set by India. It’s been an explosive start to the second innings as well.

Current Match Status: The Chase is On

• New Zealand: 23/1 (1 over)
• Wickets Fallen: Tim Seifert (9 off 3 balls)
• Current Batters: Finn Allen (13*) and Rachin Ravindra (0*)
• Required Run Rate: 13.11

Quick Recap: First Innings Carnage

India finished their 20 overs at a record-breaking 271/5.

• Ishan Kishan’s Heroics: He smashed his maiden T20I century (103 off 43 balls), hitting 10 sixes.
• SKY’s Support: Captain Suryakumar Yadav played a captain’s knock of 63 off 30 balls.
• Late Blitz: Hardik Pandya (42 off 17) and Shivam Dube (7* off 2) ensured India posted their third-highest T20I total ever.

The Second Innings So Far

Arshdeep Singh opened the bowling for India, and it was an eventful first over:

• 0.1: Tim Seifert started with a streaky boundary through the slips.
• 0.3 & 0.4: Finn Allen hammered back-to-back boundaries.
• Wicket: Arshdeep eventually got his man, dismissing Tim Seifert on the final ball of the over to give India an early breakthrough.

Match Context

India leads the 5-match series 3-1. This is the final T20I before both teams head into the T20 World Cup, and India is currently looking like the clear favorites to finish the series 4-1.

India has just finished an absolute “sixer-fest” in Thiruvananthapuram, setting a massive target for New Zealand.

First Innings Summary: India 271/5 (20 Overs)

India has posted their highest-ever T20I total against New Zealand, fueled by a historic performance from Ishan Kishan.

• Ishan Kishan’s Masterclass: Kishan stole the show with his maiden T20I century, smashing 103 off just 43 balls. His innings included 10 towering sixes and 6 fours, reaching the milestone in the 17th over.
• SKY’s Blazing Fifty: Skipper Suryakumar Yadav played his part perfectly, scoring 63 off 30 balls. He and Kishan shared a devastating 137-run partnership for the third wicket.
• The Finish: Hardik Pandya provided the final flourish with a quickfire 42 off 17 balls, while Shivam Dube finished the innings with a massive six off the final ball.
• NZ Bowling: It was a tough outing for the Kiwi bowlers. Lockie Ferguson was the pick of the bunch with 2/41, while Kyle Jamieson took a wicket but went for 59 runs in his 4 overs.

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Scorecard Snapshot

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: What’s Next?

The players are taking a short break. New Zealand now faces a mountain of a chase—272 runs to win—at a required run rate of 13.60.

The 5th and final T20I between India and New Zealand is currently underway at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Having already clinched the series 3-1, India is looking to finish strong before the upcoming T20 World Cup.

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Live Score & Match Status

• India: 172/2 (13.4 overs)
• Current Batters: Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan
• Run Rate: 12.59
• Toss: India won the toss and elected to bat first.

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Key Match Highlights

• Abhishek Sharma’s Blistering Start: Abhishek provided another explosive start, smashing 30 runs off 16 balls (including 6, 4, 4 in the first over) before being dismissed by Lockie Ferguson.
• Sanju Samson’s Struggles: Playing in front of his home crowd, Samson unfortunately failed to capitalize, departing early for 6 runs off 6 balls.
• The Partnership: Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan are currently stabilizing and accelerating the innings, with the run rate hovering well above 12 per over.
• Series Context: India leads the series 3-1. While they lost the 4th T20I in Visakhapatnam, they are dominant today, aiming for a 4-1 series finish.

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Playing XIs

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Where to Watch

• TV: Star Sports Network
• Mobile/Online: JioStar (App & Website)

The fifth and final T20I between India and New Zealand is currently underway at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. India, having already clinched the series 3-1, are looking to finish on a high before the 2026 T20 World Cup begins next week.

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Live Match Summary (In-Progress)

• Toss: India won the toss and elected to bat first. Captain Suryakumar Yadav cited a desire to “test the team” by defending a total despite the expected dew.
• Current Score (approx. 10th over): India is 103/2.
• Top Performers: * Abhishek Sharma: Provided a blistering start, scoring 30 off 16 balls (including 6, 4, 4 in one over) before being dismissed by Lockie Ferguson.
  • Ishan Kishan & Suryakumar Yadav: Currently stabilizing and accelerating the innings in the middle overs.
• Key Wicket: Hometown hero Sanju Samson failed to capitalize on the occasion, falling early for just 6 runs.

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Confirmed Playing XIs

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Latest Team Updates

• India’s Strategy: India made three changes, welcoming back Axar Patel and Ishan Kishan. Varun Chakaravarthy also returned to the XI to gain final match practice before the World Cup.
• New Zealand’s Boost: The Black Caps welcomed back Finn Allen and Lockie Ferguson. Allen is expected to provide the firepower New Zealand lacked in the early stages of the series.
• Pitch Report: The surface is expected to be “true” for the full 40 overs, though dew remains a significant factor for the bowlers in the second innings.

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Series Context

India leads the 5-match series 3-1. While the series is decided, this match is a vital “rehearsal” for both sides. New Zealand is riding high on momentum after a convincing 50-run win in the 4th T20I at Visakhapatnam, where Shivam Dube was the lone bright spot for India with a 15-ball half-century.

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Super India Clinch Series Despite Final Game Thriller in Thiruvananthapuram

The curtains have fallen on the high-octane India vs New Zealand T20I series 2026, and what a spectacle it was! As the action moved to the serene Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram for the fifth and final encounter, the stakes were sky-high for momentum, even with India already holding an unassailable 3-1 lead.

With the 2026 T20 World Cup just around the corner, this final match served as the ultimate testing ground for Suryakumar Yadav’s Men in Blue and Mitchell Santner’s Black Caps.

Match Overview: India Opts to Bat in Final World Cup Rehearsal

Winning the toss under the humid Kerala sky, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav made a bold call to bat first. “We want to test ourselves in defending a total, especially with the dew factor expected later in the evening,” Surya noted at the toss.

India made strategic changes to their XI, bringing back the spin wizard Varun Chakaravarthy and giving Ishan Kishan a go at the top of the order alongside the explosive Abhishek Sharma. For the local fans, the inclusion of hometown hero Sanju Samson was the biggest talking point, though the pressure was firmly on him to deliver after a lean patch in the series.

First Innings: Abhishek Sharma’s Fireworks and the Middle-Order Grind

The Indian innings began with a bang. Abhishek Sharma continued his red-hot form, treating the Thiruvananthapuram crowd to a flurry of boundaries in the Powerplay. He raced to 26 off just 12 balls, dispatching Jacob Duffy for a massive six and two fours in the opening over.

However, the joy was short-lived for the “Samson Army.” Sanju Samson, opening the batting, failed to capitalize on his home-ground advantage, falling early to a sharp delivery from Lockie Ferguson. This intensified the debate over India’s opening combination for the upcoming World Cup, as Ishan Kishan looked far more composed at the other end.

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Key Partnerships and the Recovery

• Abhishek & Kishan: A quick-fire 40-run stand that set the tempo.
• Suryakumar Yadav’s Cameo: The skipper played his signature scoops and ramps, providing a steady 9.00+ run rate.
• The Finish: Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh provided the late-innings impetus, ensuring India posted a competitive total on a pitch that started to slow down.

Second Innings: New Zealand’s Spirited Chase

Chasing a target under lights in Trivandrum is never easy, but the Kiwis, fresh off their victory in the 4th T20I at Visakhapatnam, came out with intent. Tim Seifert, the hero of the previous game, looked dangerous again, while Finn Allen made a welcome return to the side to provide some muscle at the top.

India’s bowling attack, spearheaded by the relentless Jasprit Bumrah, was tested early. Arshdeep Singh struggled with his lines initially but pulled back beautifully in his second spell. The introduction of Varun Chakaravarthy in the middle overs proved to be the turning point, as his mystery spin stifled the New Zealand middle order.

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Playing XIs

Series Wrap-Up: Lessons for the T20 World Cup 2026

India finishes the series with a 4-1 victory, a scoreline that reflects their dominance but hides some of the vulnerabilities exposed by New Zealand.

1. The Opening Conundrum

While Abhishek Sharma has all but sealed one opening spot with his fearless approach, the second slot remains a toss-up between Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. With Samson’s low returns (only 40 runs in the first four innings), the selectors might lean toward Kishan’s consistency.

2. The Power of All-Rounders

Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya have been revelation in this series. Dube’s explosive 65 off 23 balls in the 4th T20I proved he can change the game in a matter of overs, while Pandya’s ability to bowl four overs of heavy pace makes him indispensable.

3. Spin Dominance

The trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Ravi Bishnoi has made India’s spin department the envy of the world. On Indian tracks during the World Cup, these three will be the primary weapons for Suryakumar Yadav.

Conclusion: A High-Octane Finale

The India vs New Zealand 5th T20I was more than just a game; it was a statement of intent from the Men in Blue. Despite the Black Caps’ fighting spirit throughout the tour—including their historic ODI series win earlier in the month—India’s T20 depth proved too much to handle.

As the fans head home from the Greenfield Stadium, the excitement for the T20 World Cup has reached a fever pitch. If this series was any indication, India is ready to take on the world.

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FAQs – IND vs NZ 5th T20I

1. When is the IND vs NZ 5th T20I scheduled?

The IND vs NZ 5th T20I is scheduled to be played as the final match of the series, concluding the India vs New Zealand T20I tour.

2. Where will the IND vs NZ 5th T20I take place?

The venue is expected to be one of India’s major international cricket stadiums, depending on the official schedule released by the cricket board.

3. What time does the IND vs NZ 5th T20I start?

The match will typically start in the evening, following the standard India T20I timing, with the toss scheduled 30 minutes before play.

4. Where can I watch IND vs NZ 5th T20I live?

Fans can watch the live broadcast on major sports channels and stream it online on official sports OTT platforms.

5. How can I follow IND vs NZ 5th T20I live scores?

Live scores will be available on sports websites, cricket apps, and match-tracking platforms offering ball-by-ball updates.

6. What are the predicted playing XIs for IND vs NZ 5th T20I?

The probable playing XIs usually include top performers from the previous matches, decided based on form, pitch conditions, and team strategy.

7. Who are the key players to watch in IND vs NZ 5th T20I?

Players like India’s top batters, all-rounders, and frontline bowlers, along with New Zealand’s power hitters and pacers, are expected to have a major impact.

8. What is the pitch report for IND vs NZ 5th T20I?

The pitch is expected to favor batting with some assistance for bowlers depending on the venue. A high-scoring contest is common in T20Is.

9. What is the weather forecast for the match?

Weather conditions will be updated closer to the match day, including temperature, chances of rain, and humidity during the evening play.

10. Where can I read post-match highlights and analysis?

Post-match highlights, scorecard, and expert analysis will be available on sports news websites, cricket blogs, and official match portals.