India and New Zealand will step into the Visakhapatnam Stadium tomorrow (January 28) for the fourth T20 match of the 5-match T20 series. Team India has already shown what they are capable of in this particular format. So far, the home team has produced top-class batting and bowling performances.
New Zealand lost the momentum they had gained by winning the ODI series. The remaining two matches are important for them to get their morale and motivation back. The fourth and fifth matches have become a battle of prestige for them.
This article takes a look at the probable playing XI for India and New Zealand, possible team combinations and key players to watch out for in the 4th T20I.
India Playing XI vs New Zealand – 4th T20I:
Openers: Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan.
Due to Sanju Samson’s recent poor form, the team may make changes in its opening combination. Samson batted in the last three T20 matches without scoring any significant runs. In the last match, he returned to the dugout with a golden duck. In place of Samson, the team management can promote Ishan Kishan to the opening slot along with Abhishek Sharma. Both Sharma and Kishan are in tremendous form in the ongoing 5-match T20 series against New Zealand.
Middle order: Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shivam Dubey, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh.
If Ishan Kishan gets promotion in the batting order, then Shreyas Iyer is more likely to get a place in the middle order along with captain Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh and Shivam Dubey. Yadav and Pandya have been performing well for the team since the beginning of the tournament. Rinku also played her role well.
Bowlers: Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah.
Like the batting order, the bowling unit is also working like a well-oiled machine. In the last match, Jasprit Bumrah took a wicket on the very first ball of his spell. Despite all the criticism and trolling, Rana is bowling impressively.
India’s playing XI: Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shivam Dubey, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah.
New Zealand Playing XI vs India – 4th T20I:
Openers: Devon Conway and Tim Seifert.
Most of the New Zealand batsmen have been struggling since the beginning of the tour. Devon Conway is one of those batsmen who is yet to find his scoring bat. As the Kiwi team management is showing confidence in the existing talent, it is expected that Conway will feature alongside Seifert as the opening batsman.
Middle order: Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell.
The middle order is the area where he has shown some fight so far. Glenn Phillips is enjoying a good outing in India, as is Daryl Mitchell. Mark Chapman also scored some runs in the last match. But Rachin Ravindra needs to show his batting instincts before the T20 World Cup 2026.
Bowlers: Mitchell Santner (captain), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.
The captain himself is not in good condition. His body language was also suspicious in the previous matches. Henry, Jamieson, Sodhi and Duffy – all these bowlers are very skilled, but they will have to find a solution to stop the Indian batsmen from scoring runs quickly.
New Zealand Playing XI: Devon Conway, Tim Seifert (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi and Jacob Duffy.
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