IND vs NZ, 5th T20I: Preview, H2H stats, when and where to watch in India?

As the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 approaches, India faces New Zealand in the 5th T20I on January 31, 2026, at Greenfield International Stadium, Kerala.

India will play their final match in Kerala ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Image | BCCI

With the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 looming around the corner, the men in blue will have their final chance to rehearse as they host New Zealand for the 5th and final T20I of the series at Greenfield International Stadium in Kerala. Here's everything you need to know about the India vs New Zealand 5th T20I, which is scheduled to be played on 31 January 2026.

Match details

Match: India vs New Zealand, 5th T20I

Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026

Tine: 7 PM IST

Venue: Greenfield International Stadium, Kerala

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Where can I watch the India vs New Zealand, 5th T20I online?

Cricket fans in India can watch the India vs New Zealand, 5th T20I, on JioHotstar via OTTplay Premium.

Read also: 5 players who could define ICC T20 World Cup 2026

Head-to-head stats

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Preview

India started the series emphatically by winning the first three T20Is as Abhishek Sharma and captain Surya Kumar Jadhav smashed everyone out of the park to hand India the series win.

However, the fourth T20I in Vizag served as a reality check.

Four T20I New Zealand openers, Tim Seifert and Devon Conway, finally found their form as they posted a massive 215 in the first innings. India struggled early, and despite a blistering 15-ball half-century from Shivam Dube, India lost by 50 runs.

The loss snapped India’s winning streak and reminded the world that the Kiwis, even when down, are never out.

The fifth T20I in Thiruvananthapuram will act as India's final rehearsal before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Moreover, it will be a test for hometown hero, Sanju Samson, who only scored 40 runs in the 4 innings of the series despite being chosen as the main wicket-keeper of the Indian squad for the upcoming mega-events.

In the meantime, Ishan Kishan, who has done well with the bat, will also try his best to push for his place in the playing XI during the T20 World Cup.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav was seen easing the tension upon arrival, jokingly giving Samson "VIP treatment" and telling bystanders to "make way for Chetta." Whether this light-heartedness translates into runs on the board remains the biggest subplot of the match.

Possible XIs

India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel/Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana.

New Zealand: Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner (c), Zakary Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.

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