IND vs WI: Predicted India playing XI for the fifth T20I against West Indies
Hosts India and visitors West Indies will meet for the fifth and final T20I at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on October 17. This will also be the final match of the West Indies’ tour of India 2026. The Men in Blue won the ODI series 2-1, but the T20I series has become interesting, and both teams have a chance to clinch the series. The series is currently level at 2-2. The Indian team took a lead twice in the series, winning the 1st and 3rd games at Lucknow and Indore, but the Caribbean side both times bounced back tremendously and levelled the series on both occasions. They won the Ranchi T20I with their greatest chase in T20I history, and then won the fourth T20I encounter at Hyderabad. The winner of the final T20I will be the series winner.
So far, the series has been totally dominated by the batters, and the final match looks set to follow the same trend. After losing the previous game, Shreyas Iyer & co. will enter the field with a couple of changes. Arshdeep Singh was hit on his left upper arm by a short ball from Shamar Joseph in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad on Wednesday and retired hurt on 5 off 4 balls. The BCCI hasn’t provided any update, but it is understood that the pacer could be rested for the final game at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Looking ahead to the New Zealand tour, the management could give rest to Arshdeep Singh. In this case, either Kuldeep Yadav or Shivam Dube would get a chance in the playing XI.
Aside from them, the lineup shouldn't change much. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson will open the innings. Ishan Kishan, captain Shreyas Iyer, and vice-captain Tilak Varma will bat in the middle order. Iyer started the series strong with a century in the first game, but he didn't do much for the team after that. Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma didn’t convert their start into big scores. However, Tilak is currently playing in the death overs.
Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Axar Patel will strengthen the team with their dual abilities as all-rounders. Mayank Yadav is set to lead the pace attack alongside Prince Yadav.
Predicted India playing XI for the fifth T20I against West Indies
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson ©, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav/Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav
