Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Final T20I before World Cup sees India test bench strength, Sanju Samson retained to delight home crowd
India made a few key changes as they won the toss and elected to bat first against New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, on Saturday. Vice-captain Axar Patel, wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan and wrist-spinner Varun Chakravarthy returned to the playing XI in what is India’s last international outing before the Men’s T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav explained that the decision to bat first was influenced by the presence of dew in recent days and the desire to test the team’s ability to defend a total under pressure. Addressing the packed home crowd, Suryakumar confirmed that local favourite Sanju Samson would continue in the playing eleven, a statement that was met with loud cheers from the stands.
Suryakumar said the pitch was expected to play true for the entire match, adding that the team management has been largely satisfied with the balance of the side across departments. He also spoke about Tilak Varma, noting that the youngster is taking his time to regain full match readiness and remains an important part of India’s plans going forward.
For New Zealand, skipper Mitchell Santner confirmed four changes to his side, with Finn Allen, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson and Lockie Ferguson returning to the XI. They replaced Devon Conway, Mark Chapman, Matt Henry and Zak Foulkes. Santner pointed out that windy conditions could aid the bowlers early on and expressed confidence in the returning players making an impact.
Saturday’s match also marked a significant milestone for Indian umpiring, as Nitin Menon became the first Indian on-field umpire to officiate in 150 international matches, adding another highlight to the series finale.
With the series nearing its conclusion and the T20 World Cup just around the corner, both teams are using the match as a final opportunity to fine-tune combinations and assess form. India’s blend of experience and youth, coupled with New Zealand’s refreshed lineup, set the stage for an intriguing contest under lights in Thiruvananthapuram.
Playing XIs
India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (capt), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy