New Zealand's predicted playing XI for the 5th ODI against India

New Zealand made a fantastic comeback in the fourth ODI against India in Hamilton. Their bowling attack, led by Trent Boult, returned to form and cleaned up the star-studded Indian batting line-up for a total of 92 runs inside 31 overs. The Kiwi batsmen then chased down the target easily to help the home team win their first match of the series.

This victory not only helped the Blackcaps salvage some pride after losing the first three matches of the series but also helped them in gaining some momentum ahead of the three-match T20I series scheduled to take place after the ODI series.

However, there is still one more match left to be played in the ODI series and so, let's have a look at what could New Zealand's playing XI be for the final match at Wellington.

---

Openers - Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls

New Zealand v India - ODI Game 4

New Zealand dropped Colin Munro from the team in the last game and it looks like they may not include him in the fifth game as well owing to a good performance from the new opening pair in the previous game.

While Guptill was dismissed cheaply in the previous game, he played some good shots in the middle and gave his team a great start as he had a strike rate of 350 in the innings. He has been struggling with his form in the series and so, the NZ team management would give Guptill a chance to return to form in the final game.

Henry Nicholls was promoted in the batting order and played a valuable innings in the fourth ODI. Kane Williamson would most likely use the same opening pair in the fifth ODI so as to finalize their opening combination ahead of the World Cup.

Middle-order - Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Tom Latham

New Zealand v India - ODI Game 3

Kane Williamson fell victim to Bhuvneshwar Kumar's bowling in the last game as the Kiwi captain is yet to fire in this series after the 64 runs he scored in the first game. With only a few matches remaining ahead of the 2019 World Cup, Williamson would be looking to play a big innings in Wellington.

Ross Taylor has been the team's best batsman in this series thus far and there is no reason why he should be dropped from the playing XI.

Tom Latham is the lone wicketkeeping-batsman in the squad so, he will definitely retain his place in the playing XI for the last game. Also, Latham has played well against India in the past but the left-handed middle-order batsman is yet to repeat his past performances in this series.

All-rounders - Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner and Colin de Grandhomme

Colin de Grandhomme

New Zealand drafted in Jimmy Neesham in the squad for the final two games and also included him in the playing XI of the fourth ODI. This indicates that the team management has the hard-hitting all-rounder in their World Cup plans and wants to give him some match practice after he recovered from his injury.

Neesham did not do much in the fourth game but picked the wicket of tail-ender Khaleel Ahmed. Mitchell Santner has emerged to be the New Zealand's leading spinner in the past few years and with his ability to bat well, the all-rounder is proving to be an asset for the Kiwis side.

Colin de Grandhomme's medium pace helped him pick three wickets in the last ODI and the all-rounder would be looking to add some more wickets to his tally in the fifth ODI of the series as well.

Bowlers - Todd Astle, Matt Henry and Trent Boult

New Zealand v India - ODI Game 4

Todd Astle was also drafted into the squad for the final two games and an impressive performance in the fourth ODI would have helped the leg spinner to seal his place for the fifth ODI.

Matt Henry's raw pace helped the Kiwis side build some pressure over the Indian team in Hamilton. The pacer troubled the Indian batsmen but failed to pick up a single wicket in that innings. Henry would surely be looking to grab some wickets at Wellington.

Trent Boult has been the spearhead of the New Zealand bowling attack since 2015 and at Hamilton, he proved why he is the best left-arm pacer of the modern era with a five-wicket haul. If New Zealand wish to win the fifth ODI, the pace battery of the team should come to the party just like they did in the previous encounter.