India Vs New Zealand, 5th T20I: See Best Photos From Thiruvananthapuram

Sanju Samson would expect passionate home support to lift his game even as India fret over Axar Patel's fitness when they wind up their T20 World Cup preparations in the fifth and final T20 International against New Zealand at Thiruvananthapuram's Greenfield International Stadium on Saturday (January 31, 2026). India were in experimental mode in the fourth T20I at Visakhapatnam, sticking to five front-line bowlers without resorting to all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. The plan didn't yield the desired result as the hosts lost even though the result does not alter the series outcome, which India has already sealed.

Updated on: 31 January 2026 8:36 pm

IND vs NZ 5th T20I: New Zealand training

New Zealand's captain Mitchell Santner, left, with head coach Rob Walter during a training session ahead of the fifth and final T20I cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Greenfield International Stadium, in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo: PTI/R SenthilKumar

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Indian cricketers at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

India's captain Suryakumar Yadav during a visit at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo: PTI

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India and New Zealand 5th T20I-Suryakumar Yadav

India's Suryakumar Yadav, second right, and New Zealand's Mitchell Santner, centre, during toss before the fifth and final T20 International cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Greenfield International Stadium, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. | Photo: PTI/R SenthilKumar

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India and New Zealand 5th T20I-Cricket fans

Crowd screams before the fifth and final T20 International cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Greenfield International Stadium, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. | Photo: PTI/R SenthilKumar

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India and New Zealand 5th T20I-Abhishek Sharma

India's Sanju Samson, left, and Abhishek Sharma arrive to bat during the fifth and final T20 International cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Greenfield International Stadium, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. | Photo: PTI/R SenthilKumar

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India's Abhishek Sharma plays a shot during the fifth and final T20 International cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Greenfield International Stadium, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. | Photo: PTI/R SenthilKumar

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India and New Zealand 5th T20I-Lockie Ferguson

New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson, right, celebrates the wicket of India's Sanju Samson, left, during the fifth and final T20 International cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Greenfield International Stadium, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. | Photo: PTI/R SenthilKumar

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India and New Zealand 5th T20I-Ishan Kishan

India's Ishan Kishan plays a shot during the fifth and final T20 International cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Greenfield International Stadium, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. | Photo: PTI/R SenthilKumar

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India's Ishan Kishan, right, celebrates his half century with captain Suryakumar Yadav during the fifth and final T20 International cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Greenfield International Stadium, in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo: PTI/R SenthilKumar

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India and New Zealand 5th T20I-Suryakumar Yadav s half century

India's captain Suryakumar Yadav celebrates his half century during the fifth and final T201 cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the Greenfield International Stadium, in Thiruvananthapuram. | Photo: PTI/R SenthilKumar

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