India’s last match before T20 World Cup 2026:Sanju Samson’s form a major concern, Suryakumar Yadav nears Rohit Sharma’s record

After a defeat in the fourth T20I against New Zealand, India will want to end the series on a high in Thiruvananthapuram. Suryakumar Yadav’s men are currently ahead 3-1 in the series and now turn their focus to the fifth and final match against New Zealand. The last game of the series will be played today at the Greenfield Stadium, with the match scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM. With the T20 World Cup approaching, India will be keen to maintain their winning momentum and finish the series on a high. India’s dominance throughout the series has been built on a powerful batting line-up. Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh have consistently delivered, putting New Zealand’s bowlers under constant pressure. However, Sanju Samson is yet to make a significant impact despite getting opportunities, and his form remains a talking point. On the other hand, New Zealand found it difficult to respond in the first three games and bounced back in 4th T20I with a commanding all-round performance, winning by 50 runs. Suryakumar Yadav set to surpass Rohit Sharma’s record If Suryakumar Yadav scores 33 runs today, he will complete 3000 runs in T20 Internationals and will become the third Indian batsman to do so. So far, this achievement has only been accomplished by Rohit Sharma (4231 runs) and Virat Kohli (4188 runs). Surya has scored 2967 runs in 103 T20I matches in his career so far. Also, if he scores 48 runs, he will become the Indian batsman with the most runs in T20s against New Zealand. Currently, Rohit Sharma is at the top of this list with 511 runs. As the series heads into its final match, all eyes will be on team selection and conditions. With a few players sidelined due to injuries, it remains to be seen whether Shreyas Iyer will be considered for the final clash. Also, will Ishan Kishan mark his return? IND vs NZ, 5th T20I, match details Date Time: 31 January, 07:00 PM Venue: Greenfield Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram How to follow: Jio Hotstar/ Star Sports Network/ Bhaskar English app IND vs NZ, head-to-head records in T20Is India and New Zealand have met 29 times in T20 internationals so far. India has the edge with 15 victories in these games, while New Zealand have won 11 matches. Three matches between the two sides ended in a tie. Greenfield Stadium, pitch report Greenfield International Stadium usually offers plenty of help to bowlers. Pacers enjoy early movement, especially under cloudy skies, while spinners get grip and turn as the match goes on. With consistent bounce and assistance for bowlers, scoring freely is tough, and matches often produce low to moderate totals. Thiruvananthapuram weather report Thiruvananthapuram will experience temperatures hovering around 33°C. There is no chance of precipitation, ensuring a dry day throughout. Humidity levels will remain moderate at 55 per cent, while steady winds are expected to blow at around 14 km/h.