VISAKHAPATNAM, Andhra Pradesh — India and New Zealand arrive in this coastal city for the fourth T20I with the series already decided, but with contrasting motivations as the hosts push for a clean sweep and the visitors look to avoid a whitewash at the Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium.
India hold an unassailable 3–0 lead and have dominated the series so far, using each match to sharpen combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup. New Zealand, by contrast, are searching for their first win after being comprehensively outplayed, particularly in the most recent encounter.
In the third T20I, the Black Caps struggled after being sent in to bat, losing early wickets that stalled momentum and forced the middle order into recovery mode. Glenn Phillips anchored the innings with a determined effort, while Mark Chapman and captain Mitchell Santner added useful contributions, but the lack of sustained partnerships restricted New Zealand to a below-par total.
India’s bowlers set the tone once again, led by Jasprit Bumrah, who delivered a sharp spell to dismantle the batting order. The fast bowler returned figures of 3 for 17, underlining his return to top form. He was well supported by Ravi Bishnoi, Hardik Pandya, and Harshit Rana, keeping constant pressure on the visitors.
The chase was swift despite an early hiccup. Abhishek Sharma’s aggressive intent seized control immediately, and with Suryakumar Yadav continuing his strong run, India wrapped up the target comfortably with plenty of overs to spare.
Abhishek lit up the stadium in the previous match with a breathtaking unbeaten 68 off just 20 balls, striking seven boundaries and five sixes at a strike rate of 340. His half-century came in just 14 deliveries, the second-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian, and set the tone for another emphatic win.
Wednesday’s match will be the fifth men’s T20I hosted at the ACA–VDCA Stadium. The venue last staged a men’s T20I in November 2023, when India edged Australia by two wickets in a tense finish.
With momentum firmly on their side, India will be aiming to extend their dominance, while New Zealand will hope Visakhapatnam offers a chance to shift the narrative before the series concludes with the fifth and final match in Thiruvananthapuram on January 31. A victory would provide a timely boost for the visitors ahead of the T20 World Cup.
India’s squad includes Suryakumar Yadav as captain, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan, and Ravi Bishnoi.
New Zealand’s squad features Mitchell Santner as captain, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Bevon Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, and Ish Sodhi. (Source: IANS)
