Mount Maunganui, Nov 2026 : New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner won the toss and elected to bowl against India in the fifth and deciding ODI at Bay Oval on Sunday, setting up a crucial contest with the three-match series at stake. India have handed fast bowler Yash Thakur his international debut, while experienced pacer Mohammed Siraj has also returned to the playing XI.
India are aiming to secure their first away ODI series victory under head coach Gautam Gambhir. New Zealand, meanwhile, will be determined to avoid their first bilateral home series defeat in the 50-over format in seven years.
Thakur has previously represented India in four T20 Internationals and replaces Gurnoor Brar, who has joined the Test squad in Wellington for preparations ahead of the upcoming assignment. Siraj comes into the side in place of left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
Speaking after the toss, India captain Shreyas Iyer expressed happiness over Thakur's opportunity to represent the country, describing him as a player who had been waiting for his chance and remained part of the national team's plans for some time.
"He is a jovial guy who has been waiting for the opportunity to play for the country and has been in the scheme of things for a while. I'm glad he's getting the opportunity to prove himself today. It's his debut, so good luck to him," Iyer said.
He also welcomed Siraj's return, highlighting the fast bowler's experience and familiarity with international cricket across formats.
"Obviously, Siraj has also been craving an opportunity to play in all formats. He's been around the team for a while and is pretty experienced. He's played over the years, so he knows how to go about things. We're super excited for him as well," the India captain added.
Iyer also addressed India's preparations following their disappointing performance in the fourth ODI, where the visitors were bowled out for just 89 runs and suffered a heavy 244-run defeat.
He said the team had focused on recovering physically and mentally after spending 50 overs on the field before being dismissed early. However, he remained optimistic about India's chances, noting that the pitch appeared to offer encouraging conditions for batting.
"We saw how the ball was staying pretty straight when they were batting and wasn't seaming that much. So, that's a good sign and gives us confidence about batting first as well," Iyer said.
He added that the players were in high spirits and had worked on recovering from the previous setback ahead of the series-deciding encounter.
For New Zealand, the fifth ODI comes with changes to their bowling attack. Regular fast bowlers Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson have joined the Test squad for preparations, forcing the hosts to make adjustments. Blair Tickner and Jacob Duffy have been brought into the playing XI.
Santner said the possibility of rain and dew later in the day influenced his decision to bowl first. He also expressed satisfaction with the team's recovery following the previous match and said the changes provided opportunities for other players to demonstrate their abilities.
The New Zealand captain highlighted the importance of building bowling depth, particularly with the next ICC Cricket World Cup cycle approaching. He said the team had been rotating players in response to a demanding schedule and that the incoming bowlers had performed well whenever given opportunities.
With India seeking a historic away series win and New Zealand determined to protect their impressive home record, the Bay Oval contest promises a high-stakes finish to the ODI series.
Playing XIs
India: Rohit Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj and Yash Thakur.
New Zealand: Will Young, Tim Seifert (wicketkeeper), Nick Kelly, Dean Foxcroft, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Kristian Clarke, Blair Tickner, Jacob Duffy and Matthew Fisher.
