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The 4th T20I between India and New Zealand at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam has seen a tactical reshuffle as the hosts look to maintain their 3-0 dominance. Captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss on a breezy coastal evening and elected to bowl first, once again factoring in the heavy dew that has characterized this series.
With the series already in the bag, the Indian team management is using these final fixtures as a high-stakes audition for the T20 World Cup 2026. This has resulted in a significant change at the top of the order, aimed at solving the team’s only remaining selection dilemma before the global tournament begins next month.
IND vs NZ: Why Ishan Kishan is sidelined for the 4th T20I in Vizag
The major talking point at the toss was the absence of the in-form Ishan Kishan, who has been the series’ standout performer with 112 runs across three innings. Captain Suryakumar confirmed that Kishan picked up a ‘niggle’ during the previous match in Guwahati, leading the management to rest him as a purely precautionary measure with the World Cup less than two weeks away. In his place, left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh has returned to the playing XI, effectively shortening the batting lineup to prioritize a five-pronged specialist bowling attack.
This shift means Sanju Samson will likely take the gloves and continue to open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma, providing Samson with a high-pressure ‘make-or-break’ opportunity to find his rhythm after a string of low scores. With Axar Patel still recovering from his finger injury and Shreyas Iyer remaining on the bench, the onus falls on the middle order of Suryakumar, Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh to compensate for the missing firepower of Kishan. The inclusion of Arshdeep alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana signals India’s intent to master their death-bowling combinations on a surface that historically becomes a ‘batter’s paradise’ under the lights.
‘Arshdeep comes in for Ishan Kishan, who picked up a niggle in the last game.’ Suryakumar said during toss time.
Also READ: Arshdeep Singh OUT of India’s playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026 as Mohammad Kaif reveals his team
New Zealand’s shifting tactics for the 4th T20I under Mitchell Santner
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner entered the 4th T20I with a blend of optimism and tactical adjustments, acknowledging that while their core group is coming together, they are still missing vital pieces of the puzzle. The Black Caps have made one change to their XI, with Zakary Foulkes coming back into the side to replace Kyle Jamieson, a move designed to add variety to their pace attack on the coastal Vizag deck.
Santner confirmed that star pacer Lockie Ferguson is still unavailable as he manages his recovery, while explosive opener Finn Allen is yet to join the squad, with both expected to be ready only for the final game or the World Cup proper. Despite the series loss, the Kiwis are viewing these remaining fixtures as essential acclimatization games, with Santner noting that the humid conditions and dew-laden outfields are exactly what they expect to encounter during the global tournament. By leaning on the experience of Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips, New Zealand are desperate to snap their losing streak and avoid a 5-0 whitewash, even as they wait for their full-strength bowling arsenal to reunite for the final dress rehearsals in Thiruvananthapuram.
‘Lockie is still out, and Finn (Allen) is on his way, so we’ve got a couple of additions still to come. But the roles are pretty clear, and we’ll probably get similar wickets in the World Cup. One change – Foulkes comes in for Jamieson. Lockie and Finn are still a little way off, but it’s good to have them coming back.’ Santner said.
Also READ: Not Abhishek Sharma! Dale Steyn predicts leading run-scorer for T20 World Cup 2026
