India will look to fine-tune their ICC T20 World Cup preparations in the fifth and final T20 International against New Zealand at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, with local lad Sanju Samson set to draw strength from vocal home support even as concerns linger over vice-captain Axar Patel’s fitness.
Despite having already sealed the series 3-1, India were in experimental mode in the fourth T20I at Visakhapatnam. The team opted to play five specialist bowlers, keeping all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube out of the bowling plans. The approach, however, failed to deliver the desired outcome as the hosts suffered a 50-run defeat, though the loss had no bearing on the series result.
Another round of changes could be on the cards, particularly in the bowling department. The team management may consider bringing back mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy after resting him for the previous two matches.
The batting line-up is unlikely to see major alterations, but Samson remains firmly under the spotlight. Known for his natural flair and attacking instincts, the wicketkeeper-batter has struggled for fluency in recent outings. Racing against time to return to form and competition heating up with the in-form Ishan Kishan, the fifth T20I could be Samson’s final opportunity to restore the faith that the team management has placed on him at the top of the order.
With Samson in contention for a key opening role at the global event, starting February 7, the team would be keen to ensure that his lean patch does not deepen further. Playing in his home city, though, could provide the spark Samson needs.
His popularity in the region was evident from a video shared by the BCCI following the team’s arrival, where captain Suryakumar Yadav was seen good-naturedly clearing the path for “Chetta” as fans thronged the airport to catch a glimpse of their local hero.
Attention will also be on Ishan and Axar. Kishan, viewed as an important backup option for Samson and in good form during the series, missed the previous match due to an unspecified injury. Axar, meanwhile, has been sidelined since picking up a finger injury in the opening T20I at Nagpur, although the left-arm spinner did roll his arm over briefly in the nets ahead of the fourth match.
Beyond individual concerns, India have collective objectives to fulfil. With limited time between assignments in the packed international calendar, the hosts are keen to carry winning momentum into the World Cup, where they begin their campaign on February 7 in Mumbai. A 4-1 series victory would further boost the confidence of a side rich in depth and versatility.
On the other hand, New Zealand will be eager to prevent that. After being outplayed in the first three matches, the visitors regrouped impressively in Visakhapatnam. Early strikes against Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav allowed their bowlers to rein in the Indian batting, despite a late assault from Shivam Dube.
The Kiwis now believe they have found a blueprint to challenge India and would take heart from a narrower 3-2 series defeat ahead of tougher assignments in the World Cup.
The Greenfield Stadium traditionally offers a batting-friendly surface, and India have won three of their four T20Is at the venue, including a victory over New Zealand in 2017. However, as captain Mitchell Santner pointed out, his side now has a clearer idea of what it takes to beat India, setting the stage for a compelling finale.
The inclusion of opener Tim Seifert has added extra firepower to New Zealand’s top order, while the visitors will also hope for a stronger showing from their bowling attack. The potential return of express pacer Lockie Ferguson could bolster that effort, provided he is deemed fully fit.
Squads:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (Capt.), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (Vice-Capt.), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravi Bishnoi.
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (Capt.), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wk), Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.