India face New Zealand in the final T20I at Thiruvananthapuram with Sanju Samson hoping home support lifts his form. Axar Patel’s fitness is under watch, while India aim for a 4-1 series win ahead of the T20 World Cup

Thiruvananthapuram: Sanju Samson will expect passionate home support to lift his game even as India fret over Axar Patel’s fitness when they wind up their T20 World Cup preparations in the fifth and final T20 International against New Zealand here on Saturday.

India were in experimental mode in the fourth T20I at Visakhapatnam, sticking to five front-line bowlers without using all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube. The plan did not yield the desired result as the hosts lost, though the outcome does not alter the series result, which India has already sealed.

As has been the case through this series, the bowling department might see some changes again and the management could give a chance to mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy after resting him from the previous two matches.

The batting department might not see too many changes, but the management will keep an eye on Samson. A free-flowing batsman, Samson now appears to be carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

More than the drying up of runs, the think-tank will be worried about technical issues that have crept into his batting of late, and the subsequent loss of confidence.

A heavy back-foot and improper bat swing might require correction ahead of the ICC showpiece starting February 7.

Since Samson is a contender for the pivotal opening slot at the marquee event, the lean patch cannot be allowed to continue. But in his home town, backed by adoring fans, Samson might just find the lost rhythm.

That he is a superstar in this part of the country was evident from a video that the BCCI shared after the team’s arrival. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav was seen playfully clearing the way for “Chetta” (elder brother) at the airport exit where hundreds of fans had lined up to catch a glimpse of the local favourite and his teammates.

Focus on Kishan and Axar
Ishan Kishan is a crucial backup option for Samson and has been in fine form in this series, but the wicketkeeper-batter had to sit out of the previous match with an unspecified injury.

All-rounder Axar too has not played since suffering a finger injury in the first T20I at Nagpur. The left-arm spinner, though, bowled a few deliveries at nets ahead of the fourth match in Visakhapatnam.

Winning ways
Beyond the individual scenarios, there are team goals to be achieved. India will play their first game of the T20 World Cup on February 7 in Mumbai, so this contest will not be treated as a dead rubber. A dominant 4-1 margin will further enhance confidence.

New Zealand, however, will look to avoid that. They were outplayed in the first three matches but found a way to silence India’s big guns at Visakhapatnam. Once they dismissed Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, the visiting bowlers contained the rest despite Shivam Dube’s blitz.

Pitch matters
The Greenfield Stadium is a high-scoring venue, and India have won three of their four T20 matches played here, including one against New Zealand in 2017. Skipper Mitchell Santner said the Kiwis now know what it takes to beat India, setting up a fascinating contest.

The addition of opener Tim Seifert has boosted New Zealand’s top order. They will also hope for an improved bowling performance, possibly with express pacer Lockie Ferguson, fitness permitting.

Teams (from):
India: Suryakumar Yadav (Capt), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (Vice-Capt), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wk), Ravi Bishnoi.

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (Capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (wk), Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.