Sanju will probably have to bat for himself today

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has stated that Sanju Samson might have to focus on his own game as much as the team’s cause during the fifth T20I against New Zealand at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, January 31. The wicket-keeper batter availed another chance to prove himself despite four successive failures in the series since his return as an opener.

Sanju Samson had scored only 16 runs in the first three matches, which included a golden duck in the third match in Guwahati. While he managed to build himself a start in the fourth T20I in Vizag, he could not make the most of it after being castled by opposition skipper Mitchell Santner.

Ajinkya Rahane urged Sanju Samson to spend some time at the crease, especially early on in the innings, and make the most of familiar conditions.

“Sanju will probably have to bat for himself today. He is a team man, don’t get me wrong, but today he has to bat for his own game. He knows these conditions really well, it is home ground. He just needs to take a little bit of time, start slowly, it is okay, because you have Abhishek Sharma at the other end,” Rahane said on Cricbuzz.

This marks the first time that Sanju Samson will play international cricket in front of his home crowd. Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav had to reassure the crowd after the winning the toss that the local player was part of the playing XI.

“I think this is the best combination” – Ajinkya Rahane praises India’s playing XI for IND vs NZ 2026 5th T20I

Ajinkya Rahane feels that the team management have landed on the best possible combination for the fifth T20I against New Zealand. The Men in Blue named three changes in the playing XI for the series finale.

During the toss, Suryakumar Yadav revealed that Ishan Kishan, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Axar Patel are back in the side, while Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravi Bishnoi make way. Ishan Kishan and Axar Patel were dealing with niggles while the mystery spinner was rested for the last two matches.

Ajinkya Rahane praised the clarity and the flexibility that this particular combination brings to the table.

“I think this is the best combination. The best thing about this team is that the top four is set, their positions are set. And the next four, they are very much flexible, they can bat anywhere, and that is a dangerous thing. The opposition teams will not only be thinking about the first four, but also the last four. Because of Axar Patel, the combination changes,” Ajinkya Rahane said.

“Suppose India are 50-3, they have the option of sending Axar up the order. We have seen Shivam Dube’s record after the 10-over mark, those are big numbers. If it is 120-1 after 10 overs or so, then anybody can come and just walk in,” he added.

At the time of writing, India have made a solid start through Abhishek Sharma as he smashed three boundaries off Jacob Duffy in the opening over.