India's predicted playing XI for the 3rd NZ vs IND 2026 T20I ft. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi & Bhuvneshwar Kumar

India and New Zealand will face off in the third T20I of the five-match T20I series. The encounter will be contested in Wellington on Tuesday, October 27.

The Men in Blue currently hold a 2‑0 lead in the rubber, having eked out two tight wins while chasing. Changes seem unlikely for now, barring unforced ones. India can be expected to stick with the same team composition.

India's squad for the T20I series vs New Zealand: Shreyas Iyer (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma (vc), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav.

On that note, here is India's predicted playing XI for the third T20I against New Zealand.

Openers: Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson (wk)

Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson will likely continue opening the batting for India. Ishan Kishan has been ruled out of the third T20I, so there's a case for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to open the batting while Samson is pushed down to No. 3. India might not want to tinker with the successful opening partnership, though.

Middle Order: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir

Sooryavanshi could bat at No. 3 once again, followed by Shreyas Iyer and Tilak Varma. Shivam Dube has unfortunately had to sit out, and the same pattern may continue in Wellington. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel and Naman Dhir could make up the rest of the middle order.

Lower Order: Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's international comeback hasn't gone to plan, but India seem primed to retain their faith in the experienced seamer. He could lead the pace attack, accompanied by Prince Yadav and Arshdeep Singh.

It's strange to see Varun Chakaravarthy sit on the bench, but India's insistence on specialist seam options and batting depth means that the ace spinner might have to wait for his turn.

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