Sanju Samson Seeks Home Comforts as India Wrap Up World Cup Preparations
The passionate roar of a home crowd at the Greenfield Stadium could be the perfect tonic for Sanju Samson as India conclude their T20 World Cup preparations in the fifth and final T20 International against New Zealand on Saturday. While the hosts have already sealed the series, this contest remains crucial with form, fitness, and final team combinations under intense scrutiny ahead of the ICC showpiece beginning February 7.
Experimental Moves and Bowling Conundrums
India adopted an experimental approach during the fourth T20I in Visakhapatnam, fielding five specialist bowlers while keeping all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube away from bowling duties. This strategy, however, did not yield the desired outcome as India suffered a defeat, allowing New Zealand to regain some momentum despite losing the series.
With one match remaining, the Indian think-tank may once again reshuffle the bowling unit. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who was rested for the last two matches, is in contention for a return as the management continues evaluating combinations on spin-friendly surfaces. Meanwhile, concerns persist over the fitness of vice-captain Axar Patel, who has been sidelined since injuring his finger during the opening T20I in Nagpur, though he was seen bowling a few deliveries in the nets ahead of the Visakhapatnam match.
Batting Focus and Samson's Technical Troubles
The batting order is unlikely to undergo wholesale changes, but all attention will be firmly fixed on Sanju Samson. The naturally gifted and free-flowing wicketkeeper-batter has struggled for consistency in recent outings. Beyond the lack of runs, visible technical issues—including a heavy back-foot trigger and an awkward bat swing—have raised alarm bells within the camp. With the T20 World Cup approaching rapidly, the team management is keen to ensure Samson's confidence does not erode further.
Other selection questions also loom large. Ishan Kishan, who has displayed good form throughout the series, missed the previous game due to an unspecified injury. As a key backup option and direct competitor for Samson, his availability will be closely monitored by the team management.
Collective Momentum and Historical Context
Beyond individual narratives, India are chasing collective momentum as they approach the global tournament. With their first T20 World Cup match scheduled for February 7 in Mumbai, the team will not treat this encounter as a dead rubber. A convincing 4-1 series victory would further boost the confidence of a squad already brimming with depth and flair.
The Greenfield Stadium traditionally offers a smooth, high-scoring surface where India have won three of the four T20Is played, including a victory over New Zealand in 2017. Mitchell Santner's side will draw confidence from that familiarity, particularly with opener Tim Seifert adding extra firepower at the top. New Zealand will also hope for a stronger bowling performance, with express pacer Lockie Ferguson potentially returning subject to fitness clearance.
Match Details and Team Information
When is the match? The fifth and final T20I will be played on January 31.
What time does it start? The match begins at 7:00 PM IST, with the toss scheduled for 6:30 PM IST.
Where will it be telecast live? Live broadcast will be available on the Star Sports Network.
Where will it be live streamed? Live streaming will be accessible through the JioHotstar app and website.
Where can fans follow live updates? Ball-by-ball updates and comprehensive coverage will be available on TimesofIndia.com.
Teams (from):
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 Chakravarthy, 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.
