India will face New Zealand in the 5th and final T20I on January 31, 2026, at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. India have already won the series, but the last match still matters. Both teams want their best rhythm before the T20 World Cup. New Zealand also pulled one back in the 4th T20I, so they will aim to finish the tour with another strong result.
This guide covers match details, pitch and weather, toss call, injury news, head to head numbers, and top fantasy picks.
India vs New Zealand Match Preview
Thiruvananthapuram will host the 5th T20I of the series. The match starts at 7:00 PM local time (IST).
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs New Zealand, 5th T20I |
| Date | 31 January 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM Local (IST) / 1:30 PM GMT |
| Venue | Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram |
| Series | New Zealand tour of India 2026 |
| Series Status | India lead 3-1 (5-match series) |
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Two-paced at times, can stay a bit slow |
| Average 1st Innings Score | Around 155 |
| Pace vs Spin | Pacers get help early, spinners can control middle overs |
| Toss Factor | Captains often prefer chasing if dew shows up |
| Dew | Can appear under lights in coastal conditions |
Greenfield Stadium does not always give an easy batting track. The ball can hold a bit, so shot timing matters. If the surface stays dry, spinners can make batters work for runs. A score around 160 can feel competitive if bowlers hit the right lengths. Venue T20 numbers show an average first-innings score of around 155 and a lower second-innings average, so teams must keep wickets in hand while batting first.
Weather Report
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 27 to 28°C during match hours |
| Humidity | High, typical coastal evening |
| Wind | Light breeze |
| Rain Chance | No major rain signal for the evening |
| Overall | Clear night, good for a full match |
Toss Prediction
The captain winning the toss may choose to bowl first. If dew arrives, fielding gets harder, and the ball can skid onto the bat. That makes chasing simpler. If the pitch looks dry with grip, the team may still chase, but they will want strong powerplay bowling first.
Injury Updates
India
- Tilak Varma remains unavailable and will rejoin the T20 World Cup group on February 3.
- India may rotate one or two players since the series result is done.
New Zealand
- New Zealand added Jimmy Neesham, Lockie Ferguson, and Tim Seifert for the last two games.
- Finn Allen will join for the final T20I, which boosts their top-order firepower.
Dream11 Team For IND vs NZ
IND vs NZ Head-to-Head Records in T20Is
India and New Zealand have produced many close T20I games.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total T20I Matches | 29 (before this match) |
| India Wins | 17 |
| New Zealand Wins | 11 |
| Tied | 1 |
| Series (Current) | India lead 3-1 |
Note: The overall count above uses the pre series record of 25 matches (India 14, NZ 10, tied 1) and then adds results from the first four matches of this series.
Last five matches
- New Zealand won by 50 runs 28-Jan-2026
- India won by 8 wickets (with 60 balls remaining) 25-Jan-2026
- India won by 7 wickets (with 28 balls remaining) 23-Jan-2026
- India won by 48 runs, 21-Jan-2026
- India won by 168 runs 01-Feb-2023
Suggested Reads:
Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Team | Role | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suryakumar Yadav | IND | Batter | Great choice for captain, plays pace and spin well |
| Abhishek Sharma | IND | Opener | Attacks early, can win fantasy points fast |
| Ishan Kishan | IND | WK Batter | Aggressive style suits chasing targets |
| Jasprit Bumrah | IND | Bowler | Wicket taker in powerplay and death overs |
| Glenn Phillips | NZ | Batter | Reliable middle order hitter, bowls part time if needed |
| Tim Seifert | NZ | WK Batter | Comes in with confidence after 4th T20I impact |
| Jimmy Neesham | NZ | All rounder | Adds balance, can chip in with both skills |
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