Punjab Newsline,Sports:
All eyes on hometown star Sanju Samson as Men in Blue look to end T20I series on a high at Greenfield Stadium
Team India will look to wrap up the five-match T20I series against New Zealand with a convincing win in the final encounter at the Greenfield Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, on Saturday. With the series already secured 3-1, the focus will firmly be on finishing strong, while New Zealand will be eager to salvage pride ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
The spotlight will once again be on local favourite Sanju Samson. The 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, playing in front of his home crowd, has not been able to convert starts into big scores in the ongoing series. Opening the innings after Shubman Gill was dropped, Samson has managed just 40 runs across four innings, making the fifth T20I a crucial opportunity to regain form and confidence.
India experimented with their playing XI in the fourth T20I at Visakhapatnam after sealing the series by winning the first three matches. Opting for an extra bowler and leaving out Ishan Kishan, the move did not pay off as New Zealand posted a massive 215 after being asked to bat first. Tim Seifert and Devon Conway led the charge with aggressive knocks, putting India under pressure early in the chase. Despite a fighting half-century from Shivam Dube, India fell short by 50 runs.
As the Men in Blue target a 4-1 series win, a few changes in the playing XI are expected. Ishan Kishan is likely to return, while mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy could also make a comeback after being rested in the last two matches. The team management may revert to a stronger combination to ensure a dominant finish.
India’s record at the Greenfield Stadium adds to their confidence. The hosts have won three of the four T20Is played at the venue. While the average first-innings score here is around 155, the ground has witnessed high-scoring encounters, including India’s 235-run total against Australia in 2023.
With home advantage, depth in batting, and bowling firepower, India will start as favourites. New Zealand, meanwhile, will look to bounce back strongly and end the tour on a positive note before shifting focus to the upcoming T20 World Cup.