After losing three games on the trot, New Zealand bounced back and registered a big 87-run win in the fourth T20I to snap their losing streak.
NZ have already lost the series, but back-to-back wins in T20Is will give them confidence heading into the ODI series. The home team put on a big total of 259 on the board in the fourth game. India were never in contention to chase down the target and lost the game. The visitors made two changes in their playing XI. Will the Men in Blue make more changes or retain the combination which lost the fourth game? Here’s a look at India’s likely playing XI for the fifth T20I vs NZ –
Openers
An unchanged opening combination is expected and Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson will continue to open the innings. Both the openers aren’t part of the ODI team and they will have a break from the game upon returning to India. Samson departed for 4 while Abhishek scored 27 off 15 balls in the fourth T20I. India needed a big opening partnership in the chase.
Middle-order
Ishan Kishan will continue to bat at number three. He made a forgettable return to the playing XI and departed for a three-ball duck. He will be followed by Shreyas Iyer. The India captain departed for 22 off 11 balls in the fourth game.
All-rounders
Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tilak Varma and Axar Patel will continue to be four all-rounders in the playing XI. The team management could bring in Shivam Dube in place of Axar if they feel the need to bolster their batting. Dube has also bowled with the new ball in the past.
Bowlers
Mayank Yadav scalped three wickets in his comeback game and he is set to retain his spot. An unchanged bowling line-up is expected, which means no place for Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy again. They have been on the bench in the series and aren’t expected to get a place in the playing XI as India prefer all-rounders. India dropped Kumar for the 4th T20I. He looks set to stay on the bench again.
India’s likely playing XI for 5th T20I vs New Zealand
Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav