Here are 5 Dream11 team predictions for the India vs New Zealand 5th T20I (Saturday, January 31, 2026).

Here are 5 Dream11 team predictions for the India vs New Zealand 5th T20I (Saturday, January 31, 2026).

​Match Details

• ​Venue: Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram
• ​Time: 07:00 PM IST
• ​Series Status: India leads 3-1
• ​Pitch Report: This venue is historically bowler-friendly and can be tricky for batters. Spinners often dominate here. However, with the small boundaries, if a batter gets set, they can score big.
• ​Key Factor: Sanju Samson is playing on his home ground, so the crowd support will be massive!

​Team 1: Safe & Balanced (Small League)

​This team relies on the most consistent performers of the series.

• ​Wicketkeepers: Devon Conway (NZ), Sanju Samson (Ind)
• ​Batters: Suryakumar Yadav (Ind), Abhishek Sharma (Ind), Glenn Phillips (NZ), Daryl Mitchell (NZ)
• ​All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya (Ind), Mitchell Santner (NZ)
• ​Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah (Ind), Ravi Bishnoi (Ind), Arshdeep Singh (Ind)
• ​Captain (C): Abhishek Sharma (In explosive form)
• ​Vice-Captain (VC): Suryakumar Yadav

​Team 2: The "Sanju Special" (Home Ground Hero)

​Backing the local boy to fire on his home turf in Thiruvananthapuram.

• ​Wicketkeepers: Sanju Samson (Ind), Devon Conway (NZ)
• ​Batters: Suryakumar Yadav (Ind), Rinku Singh (Ind), Glenn Phillips (NZ)
• ​All-Rounders: Hardik Pandya (Ind), Axar Patel (Ind), Mitchell Santner (NZ)
• ​Bowlers: Ravi Bishnoi (Ind), Varun Chakaravarthy (Ind), Ish Sodhi (NZ)
• ​Captain (C): Sanju Samson
• ​Vice-Captain (VC): Ravi Bishnoi (Spinners often rule this ground)

​Team 3: Spin Domination (Pitch Focused)

​If the pitch is sticky and dry (common in Thiruvananthapuram), spinners will take bundles of wickets.

• ​Wicketkeepers: Devon Conway (NZ)
• ​Batters: Suryakumar Yadav (Ind), Daryl Mitchell (NZ) (Good players of spin)
• ​All-Rounders: Mitchell Santner (NZ), Axar Patel (Ind), Hardik Pandya (Ind), Rachin Ravindra (NZ)
• ​Bowlers: Ravi Bishnoi (Ind), Varun Chakaravarthy (Ind), Ish Sodhi (NZ), Kuldeep Yadav (Ind - if playing)
• ​Captain (C): Ravi Bishnoi
• ​Vice-Captain (VC): Mitchell Santner

​Team 4: NZ Fightback (Differential)

​Assuming New Zealand wins to end the series on a high.

• ​Wicketkeepers: Devon Conway (NZ), Tim Seifert (NZ)
• ​Batters: Glenn Phillips (NZ), Mark Chapman (NZ), Abhishek Sharma (Ind)
• ​All-Rounders: Mitchell Santner (NZ), Daryl Mitchell (NZ)
• ​Bowlers: Matt Henry (NZ), Lockie Ferguson (NZ), Jasprit Bumrah (Ind), Arshdeep Singh (Ind)
• ​Captain (C): Devon Conway
• ​Vice-Captain (VC): Glenn Phillips

​Team 5: Grand League (High Risk)

​Dropping popular players to win big. Backing bowlers to dominate batters.

• ​Wicketkeepers: Ishan Kishan (Ind - if he plays over Samson/Jurel) or Sanju Samson
• ​Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad (if rotated in), Glenn Phillips (NZ), Rinku Singh (Ind)
• ​All-Rounders: Shivam Dube (Ind), Hardik Pandya (Ind), Michael Bracewell (NZ)
• ​Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh (Ind), Harshit Rana (Ind), Jacob Duffy (NZ), Varun Chakaravarthy (Ind)
• ​Captain (C): Arshdeep Singh (Death overs wickets)
• ​Vice-Captain (VC): Hardik Pandya

​Final Tips:

1. ​Toss Update: Since the series is decided (India won), India might test their bench strength. Check if Shubman Gill or Yashasvi Jaiswal come back in, or if bowlers are rotated.
2. ​Weather: Thiruvananthapuram can sometimes be cloudy; if it's overcast, pacers like Bumrah and Boult (if playing) become deadly in the first 6 overs.