IND vs NZ 5th T20i: Predicted 11 for Both Teams!

Both teams are practically locked down on their starting lineups for the T20 World Cup, when selecting their squad for the final T20I against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram.

India’s series lead of 3-1 doesn’t mean much anymore, as this last match is being taken very seriously.

They’re still reeling from their fourth match loss and New Zealand are looking to carry that momentum forward.

India Team 11 for 5th T20I

India’s big call: Sanju Samson

India have a big decision to make with regards to Sanju Samson, who is basically playing at home but has only managed 40 runs in the four matches so far. Coming dashing back to Kerala, where he played his first 56 T20 Internationals, doesn’t fill him with confidence and if he doesn’t knock this one out of the park, they might switch to opening with Ishan Kishan, which would be a huge change of direction.

Abhishek Sharma powerplay extremes

Abhishek Sharma, the world’s No.1 T20I batsman, has started the series with two half-centuries, but got out for nothing off the first ball in the fourth match against Jacob Duffy and will be desperate to make up for that disaster. Well-known for either explosive or fragile starts in the powerplay, there’s no middle ground with these two.

Ishan, Suryakumar, Dube, Rinku

Ishan Kishan is coming in at number three after sitting out the last match because of a minor injury, and he’s been absolutely on fire lately, scoring 76 and 28 in his last two outings. With his return, the middle order gets a massive boost and India now have a proven firebrand in the number three spot. Looking at the Indian lineup, Suryakumar Yadav, who’s basically the captain, owns the number four spot and has been hitting his stride in the series. Well-known for his consistency and dependability, he’s a position he’s not letting anyone else take.

Coming in at numbers five and six, Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh are the dynamic duo that the team is counting on. Dube’s recent 65 off just 23 in the fourth match is a testament to his importance in the team’s death-overs plan, and Rinku Singh’s aggressive finishing is bolstered by his left-handed strength and T20 experience, and is the perfect foil to Dube’s batting.

Axar return and Hardik rest

Axar Patel has been given a much-needed rest after a finger injury in the first T20I, but at number seven he adds significant batting depth and left-arm spin, and will be the go-to bowler and batsman in India’s bid to maintain a perfect record. Hardik Pandya, who’s played all four games so far, has been given some time off suggesting the team is planning to monitor his workload because the World Cup is just six days away.

India bowling: Varun, Kuldeep, pace

Varun Chakaravarthy is back in the XI after a two-match absence and bowled sharply in the nets and looks to be back. His unique mystery leg-breaks are going to be devastatingly effective against New Zealand’s predominantly left-handed batsmen. The Bumrah–Arshdeep duo provides the pace, and Kuldeep brings in the wrist-spin, which he uses to flummox batters in the powerplay and the death overs.

India predicted XI

New Zealand top order and middle

New Zealand, on the other hand, have Finn Allen and Tim Seifert opening for them.

Fresh from the Big Bash League, where Allen made 466 runs off 24.5 overs and literally brought the house down with 38 sixes, and now stands as the 15th ranked batsman in the world of T20Is, and has the highest strike rate of any New Zealand batsman. Coming heading back to international cricket after a year away, Allen is the aggressive powerplay boost New Zealand badly need. Seifert, the wicket-keeper, will be opening with him. You can expect Tim Seifert to fire up the New Zealand total from the number two spot, sending them over the 170 mark, when watching the action in fantasy or live.

Coming heading down the order, the middle part of the Kiwis is looking solid with Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell. Ravindra is essentially a classical T20 player, but brings over 35 as an average, and Phillips is a jack-of-all-trades with his off-spin, which is great. Chapman had a relatively quiet series, but is known for anchoring innings with his measured approach. Mitchell’s score of 29 in the fourth match really put him on the map, and gives them a much-needed boost in the death overs.

Santner captaincy and bowling unit

At number seven, captain Mitchell Santner provides left-arm spin and the occasional late-order sledge. He’s basically there to neutralize India’s aggressive top order. Coming up against India in the fourth match, his 3-26 showed how effective he is in slowing down the opposition’s aggressive batsmen.

Their bowling line-up is led by Zak Foulkes who is a pacer, Matt Henry who brings pure speed over 140km/h, Ish Sodhi who has the leg-spin alternative to Santner’s orthodox left-arm, and Jacob Duffy who is their death-overs expert, and happens to be the number one ranked T20I bowler in the world, and took out a couple of crucial wickets in the early matches, and is going to be their go-to man against India’s power hitters.

Devon Conway won’t be in the starting line-up anymore, and instead Finn Allen gets the nod. Michael Bracewell is struggling with a left calf strain, and is doubtful.

New Zealand predicted starting eleven

Selection questions and World Cup prep

When looking at India’s XI, they’re asking themselves two things: can Samson step up at home, and should Ishan open.

By sending out this XI, they’re saying they need to figure out the answers before the World Cup. When India takes the field against New Zealand they’re going to be relying on Axar Patel‘s all-round performance and Hardik Pandya‘s recovery. But the return of Varun Chakravarthy means that spinning attacks will be at the heart of their World Cup plans.

Well-known for their conservative approach at the top of the order, New Zealand have made a statement by adding Finn Allen to their side, and are basically abandoning the gentle way they’ve started their last few games with Bracewell and Conway. If Allen can find his recent form on the Indian pitches. And it’s a big if, New Zealand will be able to get on top of India’s bowlers during the powerplay, but his T20I average of 10.4 shows that he hasn’t exactly been the most consistent batsman, and it’s a risk for the Black Caps.

Coming hustling over into a match that is being treated more like a dress rehearsal, rather than a dead rubber, both teams will be looking to test out their World Cup combinations.

New Zealand with their new strategy and India with a brand-new-look middle order.

Sanju Samson’s got a huge opportunity in his Kerala home ground T20I, but has only managed to score 40 runs in his last four matches, and if he doesn’t turn it around this is probably his last chance before the World Cup selectors decide who to send to the tournament, and could see Ishan Kishan taking over the opening spot.

Ishan Kishan’s Comeback

Ishan Kishan‘s return at number three gives India a serious boost in the batting stakes, he’s coming back after scores of 76 and 28 in his last two games before getting injured, and his presence is forcing the opposing team to change their plans, and gives them the flexibility to change gears if Samson starts struggling.

Finn Allen has been absolutely on fire in the Big Bash, racking up 466 runs at a strike rate of 186.18 and brings the explosive element that New Zealand have been missing, but his T20I average of 10.4 says that India’s fast bowlers might be able to calm him down. When looking at the Indian lineup, Varun Chakaravarthy‘s recent two-match break has given him the perfect leg-up to exploit New Zealand’s left-handed batsmen. 1-2 middle-order wickets in this game could be the difference between India reaching 165+ on the board.

Hardik Pandya is getting a well-deserved rest, but Axar Patel‘s return brings back left-arm spin and a batting balance that Hardik cannot provide.

Well-known as blueprints for T20 World Cup success, these predicted XIs are not lineups randomly chosen for a dead-rubbery match, and in a way, India’s decision to go with Ishan Kishan at No. 3 And bring back Varun Chakaravarthy, show they’re testing out the combinations that will make their tournament, New Zealand on the other hand, are counting on Finn Allen’s aggressive approach to knock India off balance.

Coming hustling over into the fray, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Finn Allen have lots to prove in this match, Samson’s home ground is basically his last chance for validation, Kishan has to prove that he’s back in form and Allen has to show that his BBL heroics weren’t a fluke against Indian fast bowlers.