New Zealand vs India 2020, 5th T20I: Toss Report

Red-hot India will be eyeing a historic whitewash when they take on a beleaguered New Zealand side in the fifth and final T20I. The Men in Blue have won all the four T20Is so far and are favourites to win the soon-to-start game too. While India have definitely played a good brand of cricket in the series so far, it would not be very wrong to say that luck has been too kind on them.

The fifth match could have the series-decider had luck not been in India’s favour. But then again, fortunes favours the brave and India should be lauded for believing in themselves. In the third T20I, Mohammed Shami defended three runs from the final five balls to force a super over before Shardul Thakur defended seven runs in the last over of the fourth T20I to force another super over.

India went on to win both the games. As far as New Zealand are concerned, not much has gone their way in the series. The hosts will be desperate to win the fifth game to restore their pride and get some momentum before the ODI series.

*Rohit Sharma is leading today with Virat Kohli rested for the final game.

We're here at The Bay Oval. Venue for the 5th and final T20I.#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/AFfa4MIckk

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 2, 2020

The pitch report from Mike Hesson and Deep Dasgupta:

“It’s a good surface normal. Average score batting first is 183. Looks a hard surface with an event covering of grass. Dimension-wise, it’s a pretty big ground as well. The wind will be a major factor too, as hitting against it won’t be easy at all. Batting first have won five of the six games here.”

Toss report:

Rohit Sharma won the toss and decided that India would bat first against New Zealand in the fifth T20I.

Here is what the captains said:

Rohit Sharma:

“We’ll bat first. It looks like a good pitch and that’s what we want to challenge our team as well to defend totals. The combination we played in the last game was very good and we want to continue with that as well. We want to continue the momentum and it is not everyday that we get a chance to make it 5-0. We have to avoid being complacent; by no means are New Zealand not a good team. Just the one change – I come in for Virat and Sanju will open. I will bat at three.”

Tim Southee:

“It looks like a good surface. Kane was a late change, he still felt a bit of discomfort and hopefully he’ll be fit for the one-dayers. We want to go back to doing what we do well and the results will take care of themselves. We’re playing the same team.”

Playing elevens:

New Zealand:

Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Tom Bruce, Ross Taylor, Tim Seifert(w), Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee(c), Ish Sodhi, Hamish Bennett, Daryl Mitchell

India:

Sanju Samson, Lokesh Rahul(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini