Indian wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson made his comeback to the playing XI for the fifth T20I of the series. He replaced Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to slot back into his original position at the top of the order. The wicketkeeper-batter was the Player of the Tournament in the 2026 T20 World Cup, but he was dropped from the side after failing in three matches. He also struggled in the two-match series against Ireland and, in the opening T20I against England, once again departed cheaply.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his debut in the second T20I, replacing the Kerala native. However, the teenager failed in the three matches he played in this series and was dropped for the fifth T20I. There was a lot of backlash on social media from fans and former players after the decision to leave Sanju Samson out of the team. Many felt that it was unfair on the wicketkeeper-batter’s side, who lost his spot in the team despite playing a crucial role in guiding the Men in Blue to their third Championship title in the shortest format. He had also lost his spot in the squad against Zimbabwe and now has a chance to make an impact in the final match of the series.
India Opt to Bowl First, Suryansh Shedge Replaces Washington Sundar
Shreyas Iyer continued his supreme toss record as he won yet another toss in the fifth match of the series. The Indian captain had no hesitation in bowling first, and India have rung in a few changes despite already losing the series 3-0. Iyer has won every toss so far in his captaincy stint, and his streak now extends to seven consecutive toss wins.
When asked about what he wants from the team in this game, Shreyas Iyer said, “I just want them to give a hundred percent effort, irrespective of the result. I just want them to have a solid set of mindset where they just go in and try to get the best out of themselves, rather than sulking or being in that situation where you are a bit hurried out of the game. Give yourself some time, relax, take a breather. So just be in the moment and stop thinking about what's happened or what's going to happen.”
India have already lost the series after losing the third T20I, and they will be playing for pride in the fifth match. This is a very crucial game for Team India, as Shreyas Iyer is yet to win a game as captain, and another loss here could pose more questions for the management and the captain. Sanju Samson returns to the side, and he will be keen to put up a good performance.
Playing XI of England and India for fifth T20I
India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson(w), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Suryansh Shedge, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Prasidh Krishna
England (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Harry Brook(c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue
