New Zealand captain
India, who have already secured an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, entered the match looking to refine their approach. Captain
Tactical shifts and team news
The return of Chakravarthy marks a significant comeback for the spinner, who had been sidelined with an abdominal side strain sustained during the series against Afghanistan. Iyer highlighted the team's enthusiasm regarding his return, noting that the spinner had delivered an inspiring message to the squad during the pre-match huddle. Bhuvneshwar Kumar also returns to the fold after being omitted from the fourth T20I following a quiet start to the series.
For New Zealand, the focus remains on maintaining the momentum gained from their 87-run victory in the fourth match at Auckland. The hosts made one change to their lineup, bringing in Blair Tickner to replace Matt Fisher. Santner acknowledged the challenge of adjusting to the specific dimensions of Seddon Park, emphasizing the need for his bowlers to remain disciplined after a strong performance from the seamers in the previous outing.
Despite the rotation in the squad, teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remains on the bench for the final game. The youngster has made only two appearances during the series, having been drafted in as cover during Ishan Kishan’s injury spell. As both teams look to conclude the series on a high note, the focus shifts to how the Indian batting order handles the challenge of setting a target on a fresh surface, while New Zealand aims to capitalize on their bowling-first strategy to close the gap in the series scoreline.
