Why Devon Conway is Not Playing Today in IND vs NZ 5th T20I?

The five-match T20I series is coming to an end as New Zealand face India in Thiruvananthapuram. After the series, both teams will head to their respective camps for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which makes this game as the final preparation.

The Kiwis have made four changes to their playing XI. They won the previous game against the hosts where they displayed why they are among the best cricket teams in the world. Among the changes for this match, opener Devon Conway has been left out of the team.

Why Devon Conway is Not Playing Today?

New Zealand have a few players in their squad who are quite experienced of playing cricket in India and one of them is Devon Conway. However, in the IND vs NZ 5th T20I, he has been left out of the playing XI, raising a few eyebrows.

Conway has played all the matches on this tour and performed well, especially in the ODIs. The left-handed opener might have been rested given his workload ahead of a major ICC event. Finn Allen has been named as Devon Conway replacement for the 5th T20I match.

Allen had an excellent Big Bash League season recently and is carrying good form here. He opened the batting alongside Tim Seifert and smashed 80 off just 38 balls. The right-handed opener is currently one of the most dangerous batsmen in the world and he showed a glimpse of his power in this match.

Finn Allen Gives New Hope to New Zealand's Batting

In the five-match T20I series between India and New Zealand, Conway wasn't at his best. While Indian openers have wreaked havoc, their Kiwi counterparts have found it comparatively difficult to score runs, ultimately costing them the match.

New Zealand's top order didn't quite perform well, however, Allen's excellent knock in the fifth match will give them confidence. He struck 8 fours and 6 sixes during a knock which was full of brute power. With this knock, he has likely cemented his place in the T20 World Cup 2026 as NZ's first-choice opener.

New Zealand Playing 11 for 5th T20I Against India

Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (C), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy