- Rest finally in sight for (some of) India’s T20I globetrotters It’s been an extremely busy period for India’s T20I team, but most of them will be able to get a break after the final match in Hamilton The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 The fifth T20I in Hamilton on Sunday marks the end of an extremely busy month and a half for the T20I side, and several players will return home for a much-needed break before regrouping for a home series against Sri Lanka in late December.
- The likes of Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh, however, go straight into the ODI series that begins in Auckland on Wednesday.
- Despite their whistlestop schedule, Shreyas’ team has overcome most challenges in New Zealand.
Rest finally in sight for (some of) India’s T20I globetrotters It’s been an extremely busy period for India’s T20I team, but most of them will be able to get a break after the final match in Hamilton The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 The fifth T20I in Hamilton on Sunday marks the end of an extremely busy month and a half for the T20I side, and several players will return home for a much-needed break before regrouping for a home series against Sri Lanka in late December.
The likes of Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh, however, go straight into the ODI series that begins in Auckland on Wednesday. Despite their whistlestop schedule, Shreyas’ team has overcome most challenges in New Zealand. They beat the jetlag and coped with the cold to win in Christchurch, and then adjusted to the unusual dimensions to succeed in Wellington.
They were only tripped up by the extremely unusual dimensions in Auckland. Winning all four tosses so far also contributed to India’s cause. Having already won the series after three games, the fifth T20I is another opportunity for India to test their bench.
Shivam Dube might get a game in place of Nitish Kumar Reddy, who is in the squad for the first ODI and in the India A squad for the third four-dayer against New Zealand A, in the lead-up to the two-match Test series. Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav also haven’t played yet, but bringing either of them into the XI would compromise batting depth, which Axar offers. For New Zealand, the fixture is an opportunity to marginally improve a poor head-to-head record against India this year: eight defeats in ten T20I matches in 2026.
New Zealand : WLLLW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first) India : LWWWL With only 36 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 105.88 in this series, Tim Seifert has looked a shadow of the batter who provided New Zealand’s batting with a point of difference during the T20 World Cup earlier this year. Along the way, he has played some desperate shots, trying to swing his way out of trouble, but it hasn’t worked so far. He will hope that his Hamilton homecoming is a hpy one.
Ishan Kishan has had a low-key tour so far. He managed only 1 in the series opener in Christchurch, where he sustained a groin injury. After missing the second and third games, he bagged a duck in the fourth T20I in Auckland.
Like Seifert, Kishan will be looking to make a bigger impact on Sunday. New Zealand (probable): 1 Finn Allen, 2 Tim Seifert (wk), 3 Daryl Mitchell, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Bevon Jacobs, 6 Michael Bracewell, 7 Mitchell Santner (ct), 8 Nathan Smith, 9 Adam Milne, 10 Jacob Duffy, 11 Matt Fisher With the ODI series beginning on November 4, three days after the T20I series ends, India might consider resting Arshdeep Singh, who is in the squad for all five ODIs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar could return to the T20I XI in place of the left-arm seamer.
It remains to be seen whether there’s room for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in India’s top order following Kishan’s return from injury. India (probable): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Sanju Samson/Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 3 Ishan Kishan (wk), 4 Shreyas Iyer (ct), 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Nitish Kumar Reddy/Shivam Dube, 7 Naman Dhir, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Arshdeep Singh, 10 Prince Yadav, 11 Mayank Yadav The straight boundaries at Seddon Park aren’t as small as the ones at Eden Park, but this is a high-scoring venue as well. Sunday’s fixture will be the 15th T20I at Seddon Park and eight of those games have had first-innings scores of 180 or more.
The temperature will be mild at the start of the game and chilly by the time it ends. “It’s our first time being up in that 250 range, I think, or at least in the time that I can remember. So who knows, maybe that’s something that we can take in, I guess, to move forward with.” Glenn Phillips on New Zealand breaking barriers “This is just a learning curve.
I feel that next time when they come here, they would probably have a better idea on how to go about their business”. Shreyas Iyer reflects on India’s defeat at Eden Park It’s been an extremely busy period for India’s T20I team, but most of them will be able to get a break after the final match in Hamilton Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma punch gloves, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 A length ball on the pads. Samson looks to go leg side but gets a leading edge over extra cover.
Bracewell runs back sideways and takes it over his shoulder while tumbling down and he strikes straightaway. It was just short of good length. Abhishek cleared his front leg and decided to go aerial, but he didn’t get the timing right and a back-pedalling mid-on completed a comfortable catch Tickner makes amends, gets Kishan after the break .
Straight down deep midwicket’s throat. Tickner lands it on a length, angling back into Kishan on off stump. The batter looks to swat it across the line but gets it off the higher part of the blade, sending it straight to Smith, who makes no mistake.
The short ball brings about Iyer’s downfall. A skiddy, short-of-a-length delivery on off stump at 136kph. Iyer is hurried into the pull and gets only a top edge, which balloons straight up for Seifert to take the simplest of catches.
Two wickets in two overs for NZ Tilak falls again! Is this another front-foot no-ball? Smith’s mistake doesn’t cost him much.
A hard-length delivery outside off, Tilak gets across looking to break the shackles but only manages to splice it high into the leg side. Smith runs to his left, covers good ground and completes the catch. He points towards the front-foot crease for another check, but he’s fine this time.
Dhir’s luck finally runs out and this time, Bracewell takes a lovely catch. Another knuckle ball outside off, Dhir looks to launch it out of Hamilton but only manages a top edge that balloons high into the air. Bracewell backpedals from extra cover, dives and takes a superb catch.
Tickner whips out a pokemon(?!) card to celebrate Another wicket for Milne, his third of the night and Reddy is out of here . Slower length ball on the stumps, he heaves it without any timing and only as far as deep midwicket where Phillips makes no mistake Milne has his fourth as Bhuvneshwar falls. Slower length ball on off stump, Bhuvi wants to go inside-out but the bat turns in his hand and he ends up dragging it to long-on where the fielder runs in and completes the catch and he strikes straightaway.
It was just short of good length. Abhishek cleared his front leg and decided to go aerial, but he didn’t get the timing right and a back-pedalling mid-on completed a comfortable catch A length ball on the pads. Samson looks to go leg side but gets a leading edge over extra cover.
Bracewell runs back sideways and takes it over his shoulder while tumbling down Another wicket for Milne, his third of the night and Reddy is out of here . Slower length ball on the stumps, he heaves it without any timing and only as far as deep midwicket where Phillips makes no mistake Milne has his fourth as Bhuvneshwar falls. Slower length ball on off stump, Bhuvi wants to go inside-out but the bat turns in his hand and he ends up dragging it to long-on where the fielder runs in and completes the catch The short ball brings about Iyer’s downfall.
A skiddy, short-of-a-length delivery on off stump at 136kph. Iyer is hurried into the pull and gets only a top edge, which balloons straight up for Seifert to take the simplest of catches. Two wickets in two overs for NZ Tilak falls again!
Is this another front-foot no-ball? Smith’s mistake doesn’t cost him much. A hard-length delivery outside off, Tilak gets across looking to break the shackles but only manages to splice it high into the leg side.
Smith runs to his left, covers good ground and completes the catch. He points towards the front-foot crease for another check, but he’s fine this time. Tickner makes amends, gets Kishan after the break .
Straight down deep midwicket’s throat. Tickner lands it on a length, angling back into Kishan on off stump. The batter looks to swat it across the line but gets it off the higher part of the blade, sending it straight to Smith, who makes no mistake.
Dhir’s luck finally runs out and this time, Bracewell takes a lovely catch. Another knuckle ball outside off, Dhir looks to launch it out of Hamilton but only manages a top edge that balloons high into the air. Bracewell backpedals from extra cover, dives and takes a superb catch.
Tickner whips out a pokemon(?!) card to celebrate and he strikes straightaway. It was just short of good length. Abhishek cleared his front leg and decided to go aerial, but he didn’t get the timing right and a back-pedalling mid-on completed a comfortable catch A length ball on the pads.
Samson looks to go leg side but gets a leading edge over extra cover. Bracewell runs back sideways and takes it over his shoulder while tumbling down Tickner makes amends, gets Kishan after the break . Straight down deep midwicket’s throat.
Tickner lands it on a length, angling back into Kishan on off stump. The batter looks to swat it across the line but gets it off the higher part of the blade, sending it straight to Smith, who makes no mistake. The short ball brings about Iyer’s downfall.
A skiddy, short-of-a-length delivery on off stump at 136kph. Iyer is hurried into the pull and gets only a top edge, which balloons straight up for Seifert to take the simplest of catches. Two wickets in two overs for NZ Tilak falls again!
Is this another front-foot no-ball? Smith’s mistake doesn’t cost him much. A hard-length delivery outside off, Tilak gets across looking to break the shackles but only manages to splice it high into the leg side.
Smith runs to his left, covers good ground and completes the catch. He points towards the front-foot crease for another check, but he’s fine this time. Dhir’s luck finally runs out and this time, Bracewell takes a lovely catch.
Another knuckle ball outside off, Dhir looks to launch it out of Hamilton but only manages a top edge that balloons high into the air. Bracewell backpedals from extra cover, dives and takes a superb catch. Tickner whips out a pokemon(?!) card to celebrate Another wicket for Milne, his third of the night and Reddy is out of here .
Slower length ball on the stumps, he heaves it without any timing and only as far as deep midwicket where Phillips makes no mistake Milne has his fourth as Bhuvneshwar falls. Slower length ball on off stump, Bhuvi wants to go inside-out but the bat turns in his hand and he ends up dragging it to long-on where the fielder runs in and completes the catch Oh, dear, no maiden century for Seifert. He falls for 93!
A good-length delivery outside off, and Seifert clears his front leg, looking to go through the covers again. But he only manages a thick inside edge that crashes into the leg stump. Heartbreak for Seifert!
Tim Seifert didn’t realise initially he had chopped on, New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I, Hamilton, November 1, 2026 a length ball around off. Allen goes for the pull and ends up skying it miles in the air. Three fielders converging but Kishan is the one who settles under it and just about clings to it as the ball comes out of his hands and rolls onto his chest and stomach, while he falls on his back taken?
Abhishek is claiming it. It was full around off and Mitchell launched it towards long-off. Didn’t make the perfect connection, though.
Abhishek charged in from long-off and took a low catch, just managing to get his fingers under it, as the TV umpire notes Varun Chakravarthy accounted for an aggressive Daryl Mitchell, New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I, Hamilton, November 1, 2026 a length ball around off. Allen goes for the pull and ends up skying it miles in the air. Three fielders converging but Kishan is the one who settles under it and just about clings to it as the ball comes out of his hands and rolls onto his chest and stomach, while he falls on his back Varun Chakravarthy accounted for an aggressive Daryl Mitchell, New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I, Hamilton, November 1, 2026 taken?
Abhishek is claiming it. It was full around off and Mitchell launched it towards long-off. Didn’t make the perfect connection, though.
Abhishek charged in from long-off and took a low catch, just managing to get his fingers under it, as the TV umpire notes Tim Seifert didn’t realise initially he had chopped on, New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I, Hamilton, November 1, 2026 Oh, dear, no maiden century for Seifert. He falls for 93! A good-length delivery outside off, and Seifert clears his front leg, looking to go through the covers again.
But he only manages a thick inside edge that crashes into the leg stump. Heartbreak for Seifert! a length ball around off.
Allen goes for the pull and ends up skying it miles in the air. Three fielders converging but Kishan is the one who settles under it and just about clings to it as the ball comes out of his hands and rolls onto his chest and stomach, while he falls on his back taken? Abhishek is claiming it.
It was full around off and Mitchell launched it towards long-off. Didn’t make the perfect connection, though. Abhishek charged in from long-off and took a low catch, just managing to get his fingers under it, as the TV umpire notes Varun Chakravarthy accounted for an aggressive Daryl Mitchell, New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I, Hamilton, November 1, 2026 Oh, dear, no maiden century for Seifert.
He falls for 93! A good-length delivery outside off, and Seifert clears his front leg, looking to go through the covers again. But he only manages a thick inside edge that crashes into the leg stump.
Heartbreak for Seifert! Tim Seifert didn’t realise initially he had chopped on, New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I, Hamilton, November 1, 2026 India won the series 3-2, which included successfully chasing 226, youngsters stepping up under pressure, and hunting down 199 in less than 14 overs The series between New Zealand and India offered further glimpses of how the battle between bat and ball is evolving in T20 cricket Adam Milne struck with his first ball, taking out Abhishek Sharma, New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I, Hamilton, November 1, 2026 Tim Seifert picked up the pace after an early reprieve, New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I, Hamilton, November 1, 2026 India have left out Axar Patel and Mayank Yadav for the dead rubber; New Zealand have replaced Matt Fisher with Blair Tickner Bhuvneshwar Kumar went for 0 for 49 on his India comeback, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 India are 3-1 ahead in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Which way will the final T20I go?
Get the LIVE scores and updates from the game right here. Tim Seifert picked up the pace after an early reprieve, New Zealand vs India, 5th T20I, Hamilton, November 1, 2026 It’s been an extremely busy period for India’s T20I team, but most of them will be able to get a break after the final match in Hamilton Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma punch gloves, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 India are 3-1 ahead in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. Which way will the final T20I go?
Get the LIVE scores and updates from the game right here. A general view of Westpac Stadium during the third Twenty20 International match between New Zealand and England at Westpac Stadium on February 15, 2013 in Wellington, New Zealand A general view of Westpac Stadium during the third Twenty20 International match between New Zealand and England at Westpac Stadium on February 15, 2013 in Wellington, New Zealand NZ vs IND 2026/27, NZ vs IND 5th T20I Match Preview – Rest finally in sight for (some of) India’s T20I globetrotters NZ vs IND 2026/27 New Zealand vs India Match Preview: It’s been an extremely busy period for India’s T20I team, but most of them will be able to get a break after the final match in Hamilton It’s been an extremely busy period for India’s T20I team, but most of them will be able to get a break after the final match in Hamilton
