India lead New Zealand 3-1, and the last match of the five-match T20I series is set for Sunday, November 1, at Seddon Park in Hamilton. India have already won the series, but the final score — 4-1 or 3-2 — is still to be decided.
Updated: October 31, 2026, 10:00 AM IST
Quick Read
- The 5th and final T20I will be played on November 1 at Seddon Park, Hamilton, starting at 12:30 PM IST, as per preview reports.
- India lead the series 3-1 after New Zealand won the 4th T20I by 87 runs at Eden Park, Auckland, on October 30.
- An India win on Sunday gives a 4-1 finish. A New Zealand win pulls the final score back to 3-2.
What happened in the 4th T20I
New Zealand posted a huge total in Auckland. Sportskeeda and OdishaBytes both report the same scorecard: New Zealand made 259 for 7 in 20 overs, and India were held to 172 for 9. New Zealand won by 87 runs.
Glenn Phillips was the star. He scored 107 off just 49 balls, with 6 fours and 10 sixes, OdishaBytes reported. Michael Bracewell gave him strong support with 65 off 25 balls. For India, Mayank Yadav took 3 wickets for 48 runs, and Jacob Duffy took 4 for 23.
The loss ended India’s clean-sweep dream. Sportskeeda noted that India had won the first three games, so the series was already sealed before Auckland. Eden Park simply showed that New Zealand can still hit back hard on their home ground.
Also read: Phillips 107 powers NZ to 87-run win over India
How the series stands
India won the first three matches and sealed the series early. Sportskeeda reported that Sanju Samson scored a match-winning 67 off 33 balls in the series opener in Christchurch and was named Player of the Match. In the third T20I in Wellington, India chased 199 in 13.2 overs, helped by a 133-run stand between Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Suryavanshi in 7.1 overs.
Series so far: 1st T20I Christchurch — India won (Samson 67 off 33). 2nd T20I — India won (venue not stated in sources checked). 3rd T20I Wellington — India won, chased 199 in 13.2 overs. 4th T20I Eden Park, Auckland, Oct 30 — New Zealand won by 87 runs (259/7 vs 172/9). 5th T20I Seddon Park, Hamilton, Nov 1 — to be played.
India will be led by Shreyas Iyer, and New Zealand by Mitchell Santner, preview site Indian Swan reported. Arshdeep Singh also hit a personal mark in Auckland: OdishaBytes reported that Santner’s wicket was his 40th T20I wicket of 2026, described as a record for most T20I wickets in a calendar year.
What is at stake in Hamilton
The series trophy is already India’s. The final score is not. Two results are possible on Sunday, and they tell two very different stories.
India win — final score India 4-1 — a strong finish after the Auckland loss, and a clear series win.
New Zealand win — final score India 3-2 — back-to-back wins for the hosts, and a much closer-looking series.
For New Zealand, a second straight win would change the feel of the whole tour. For India, a win restores order after a heavy defeat. A five-match ODI series follows the T20Is, starting November 3, Zoom News reported, so both teams will also want good form going into that longer format.
Three talking points to watch
First, the Vaibhav Suryavanshi question. Sportskeeda reported that the teenager was on the bench in Auckland after scoring a 19-ball 45 in the third T20I in Wellington. Former cricketer Dinesh Karthik suggested a way to fit him in: if India want Vaibhav in the XI for the final match, they should rest Abhishek Sharma rather than drop Sanju Samson again. Karthik also suggested resting a pacer like Arshdeep Singh, with the series already won, and playing an extra spinner in Hamilton.
Second, Glenn Phillips against India’s bowlers. Phillips smashed 107 off 49 balls in Auckland. India’s bowlers gave away 259 runs in that game. How they bowl to him early in Hamilton could set the tone for the whole match.
Third, India’s batting response. India chased 230 earlier in the series, OdishaBytes noted, but 260 in Auckland proved too steep. Openers Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan were out for 4 and 0 in Auckland, Sportskeeda reported. A solid start in Hamilton would take pressure off the middle order.
No official playing XI for the 5th T20I was found in the sources checked for this preview. Team news should be treated as unconfirmed until the toss.
When and where to watch in India
The match starts at 12:30 PM IST on Sunday, November 1, Indian Swan and SportsCafe both report. The local start time in New Zealand is 8:00 PM, Indian Swan reported. The venue is Seddon Park, Hamilton.
The TV channel and streaming app for this New Zealand-hosted series could not be confirmed from the sources checked for this preview. Older reports about a different India-New Zealand series name Star Sports and JioHotstar, but those were for a series played in India, not this tour. Fans should check their TV guide or streaming app listing on match day before the 12:30 PM start, rather than relying on the old series details.
FAQ
When is the India vs New Zealand 5th T20I?
Sunday, November 1, 2026, at Seddon Park, Hamilton. Preview reports put the start at 12:30 PM IST (8:00 PM local time in New Zealand).
Who has won the T20I series?
India. India lead 3-1 with one match left, after winning the first three games and losing the fourth by 87 runs in Auckland.
What happens if New Zealand win in Hamilton?
The final score becomes 3-2 to India. India still keep the series, but New Zealand finish with two straight wins and a much closer scoreline.
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