India Tests Line-up Ahead of T20 World Cup Against New Zealand
On January 31, 2026, in their last T20I before the upcoming T20 World Cup, India has elected to bat first against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram. Captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed his desire to give his bowlers the challenge of defending a total under potentially dewy conditions, a useful test before the world tournament.
Crucial Changes for Both Teams
The Indian team has made strategic changes, bringing back key players such as Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakravarthy. Notable absentees from the fourth T20I include Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravi Bishnoi. This adjustment aims to optimize the squad for the World Cup warm-ups. Kishan returns after missing a game due to a minor injury, while Tilak Varma is expected to rejoin the team for future matches.
On the New Zealand side, they have also reshuffled their lineup. Finn Allen returns to the national team fresh from an impressive performance in the Big Bash League (BBL). Joining him are Bevon Jacobs, as well as seam bowlers Kyle Jamieson and Lockie Ferguson. Their introduction marks Ferguson’s first appearance for New Zealand since November 2024.
Player Roster for the Final T20I
- India: 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Sanju Samson (wk), 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Shivam Dube, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Jasprit Bumrah
- New Zealand: 1 Tim Seifert (wk), 2 Finn Allen, 3 Rachin Ravindra, 4 Glenn Phillips, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Bevon Jacobs, 7 Mitchell Santner (capt), 8 Kyle Jamieson, 9 Ish Sodhi, 10 Lockie Ferguson, 11 Jacob Duffy.
Both nations are strategically testing their squads in this final match as part of their preparation strategies for the global tournament, which promises rigorous competition and thrilling matches ahead.
