• Shivam Dube’s explosive lone-warrior act proved insufficient as New Zealand snapped India’s winning streak with a decisive 50-run victory in Visakhapatnam.

  • Chasing a mammoth target of 216, India were eventually being bundled out for 165 in 18.4 overs.

Fans react after Shivam Dube’s brave knock falls short as New Zealand ends losing streak with 50-run win over India in 4th T20I
IND vs NZ (Image Source: X)

Shivam Dube’s explosive lone-warrior act proved insufficient as New Zealand snapped India’s winning streak with a decisive 50-run victory in Visakhapatnam. Chasing a mammoth target of 216, the Indian top order crumbled early under the lights, leaving the middle order with a mountainous task against a disciplined Kiwi attack. Despite Dube’s historic 15-ball half-century, the lack of support from the other end saw India’s chase lose steam as wickets tumbled at regular intervals. The defeat ends India’s hopes for a perfect 5-0 sweep, though they still hold a 3-1 lead in the five-match series. New Zealand’s clinical performance with both bat and ball finally rewarded them with their first win of the tour.

Shivam Dube’s blazing knock for India during 4th T20I in vain

Dube turned the ACA-VDCA Stadium into a hitting range, briefly igniting hopes of a miracle with a career-defining 65 off just 23 balls. Entering the crease at 63/4, Dube immediately shifted the pressure onto the bowlers, dismantling the spin of Ish Sodhi in a 29-run over that included three massive sixes and two boundaries. He reached his fifty in a staggering 15 deliveries, marking the third-fastest T20I half-century for India and keeping the asking rate within reach during his mid-inning rampage.

However, the brilliance was cut short in the 15th over by a stroke of extreme misfortune at the non-striker’s end. Harshit Rana drove a ball straight back at bowler Matt Henry, who managed to deflect the leather onto the stumps while Dube was backing up out of his crease. The umpire signaled out, and with Dube’s departure, India’s resistance effectively evaporated, as they were still needing 71 runs from the final 30 balls. His innings, which featured seven sixes and three fours, served as a masterclass in power-hitting but ultimately lacked the partnership needed to cross the finish line. Dube walked off to a standing ovation, though his face told the story of a missed opportunity to pull off one of India’s greatest-ever chases.

Also WATCH: IND vs NZ : Hardik Pandya’s bullet throw brings an end to Mitchell Santner’s innings during 4th T20I in Vizag

New Zealand dominance ends India’s winning streak in the ongoing T20I series

New Zealand’s victory was built on the foundation of a massive first-innings total of 215/7, powered by Tim Seifert’s aggressive 62 and a late flourish from Daryl Mitchell (39*). The Indian bowling unit, which had been dominant all series, struggled early as the Kiwis raced to 100 without loss in just 8.2 overs. Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav were the pick of the bowlers, claiming 2 wickets each and executing a brief middle-order squeeze that saw New Zealand slip to 152/5. Despite the fightback, Rana’s expensive final over, where he conceded 14 runs, allowed the visitors to set a target that required a record-breaking effort from the hosts.

India’s response was disastrous from the start, as Abhishek Sharma fell for a golden duck to Matt Henry and Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for 8 by Jacob Duffy. Hardik Pandya and Sanju Samson failed to capitalize on their starts, leaving the scoreboard at a dismal 84/5 at the halfway mark. Mitchell Santner led his side brilliantly, finishing with figures of 2/14 and orchestrating the run-out of his counterpart to keep India under the thumb. The Indian tail failed to wag against the pace of Henry and the spin of Sodhi, eventually being bundled out for 165 in 18.4 overs. This comprehensive 50-run win not only saved the Kiwis from a whitewash but also exposed cracks in the Indian chase-management under extreme scoreboard pressure.

Here’s how fans reacted: 

Also READ: IND vs NZ: Fans slam Gautam Gambhir as Shreyas Iyer misses out again in India XI for 4th T20I in Visakhapatnam

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