India and New Zealand will step into the Visakhapatnam stadium tomorrow (January 28) for the fourth T20I of the 5-match T20I series. Team India have 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 their momentum, which they gained by winning the ODI series. The remaining two matches are crucial for them to regain their morale and motivation. The fourth and fifth matches are turned into a prestige fight for them.
This article looks at the probable playing XIs for India and New Zealand, likely team combinations, and the key players to watch in the fourth T20I.
India Playing XI vs New Zealand – 4th T20I:
Openers: Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan.
The team is likely to change their opening combination because of the recent poor form of Sanju Samson. Samson batted in the previous three T20Is without producing 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 to combine with Abhishek Sharma. Sharma and Kishan are both in tremendous form in the ongoing 5-match T20I series against New Zealand.
Middle-order: Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh.
If Ishan Kishan gets the promotion in the batting order, then there are high chances to see Shreyas Iyer taking a place in the middle order along with captain Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, and Shivam Dube. Yadav and Pandya have been doing well for the team since the beginning of the tournament. Rinku also played his part well.
Bowlers: Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah.
Like the batting line-up, 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. Rana, despite a lot of criticisms and trolling, is bowling with impact.
India Playing XI: Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, 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 New Zealand batters have been struggling from the beginning of the tour. Devon Conway is one of the batters who is yet to find out his scoring bat. As the Kiwi team management has been showing trust in the existing talents, it is expected to see Conway along with Seifert as the openers.
Middle order: Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell.
The middle order is the area where they have shown some fighting spirit so far. Glenn Phillips is enjoying a good outing in India, as is Daryl Mitchell. Mark Chapman also got some runs in the last match. But Rachin Ravindra needs to show his batting instincts ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Bowlers: Mitchell Santner (c), Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.
The skipper himself is not in good shape. His body language was also questionable in the previous matches. Henry, Jamieson, Sodhi, and Duffey—all of these bowlers are well-skilled, but they have to find a solution to stop Indian batters from scoring runs fluently.
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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