Team India will be looking to end the ongoing series against England on a winning note when both teams take on each other in the fifth T20I. The final match of the series is scheduled to be played on Sunday (January 2) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
India have already sealed the series by taking a 3-1 lead. After losing the third game, the Men in Blue bounced back in style and won the fourth T20I in Pune by 15 runs. Batting first, India recovered from 79/5 to post a big total of 181/9 in the allotted 20 overs thanks to half-centuries from Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube.
In reply, England were bowled out for 166 runs. Harry Brook scored a fighting fifty for the visitors but most of his teammates failed to deliver with the bat. For India, Harshit Rana and Ravi Bishnoi claimed three wickets each.
With in-form India eyeing another win, we are taking a look at the India Playing 11 for the fifth and final IND vs ENG T20I.
India Playing 11 vs England – 5th T20I, England tour of India 2025:
Openers: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma
Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are expected to be the openers in the India Playing 11 for the fifth game as well. The onus will be on them to give the team a good start after they failed to stitch a big partnership in the fourth T20I.
Samson will be under immense pressure after registering his third single-digit score in a row in the ongoing series. In all four games, the right-handed batsman lost his wicket against short ball and would be desperate to end the series on a good note.
With the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill waiting in the wings, Samson cannot afford more failures. Another failure could cost him his place in the India Playing 11.
On the other hand, Abhishek has looked in good touch in the series. Even in the fourth game, he got the start and scored 29 runs before departing.
Middle-order batsmen and allrounders: Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel
In-form Tilak Varma will be desperate to make amends after his poor display with the bat in the fourth game. The southpaw lost his wicket on the very first ball he faced as he charged down the track to play a big shot and edged the ball towards the third man fielder.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav also failed with the bat in the fourth game and departed even before opening his account. Suryakumar has failed to lead the team from the front in the series so far and will be keen to end the series on a good note.
After missing the second and third T20Is due to a back issue, Rinku Singh returned to India Playing 11 for the fourth game. He walked out to bat when the team was reeling at 12/3 and managed to steady the ship by sharing a 45-run stand with opener Abhishek. Rinku departed for 30 and will be looking to contribute with the bat in the forthcoming game as well.
Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya were the pick of the Indian batters. After India were reduced to 79/5, both the all-rounders scored 53 runs each to guide the team to a competitive total. Unfortunately, Dube could not field in the game as he was concussed out after copping a blow on his head in the last over of the innings. Axar Patel scored 5 runs and picked up 1 wicket.
Bowlers: Mohammed Shami/ Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy
With the series already sealed, the team management could make at least one change to the India Playing 11. Mohammed Shami, who was dropped from the India Playing 11 for the fourth T20I, could replace Arshdeep in the team. Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakravarthy are expected to play the final game.