India vs New Zealand 4th T20I Live: Series in Pocket, Hosts Target Spin Revival
With the five-match T20I series already secured with an unassailable 3-0 lead, the Indian cricket team shifts its focus to fine-tuning combinations and addressing specific concerns as they face New Zealand in the fourth T20I at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. While the batting unit has been nothing short of spectacular, the spotlight now turns to the spin department, which has shown signs of vulnerability despite the team's dominant position.
Batting Fireworks Mask Spin Concerns
The Indian batting lineup has unleashed an unprecedented assault on New Zealand bowlers throughout the series. Abhishek Sharma has been particularly devastating, striking at over 300, while captain Suryakumar Yadav and wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan have maintained strike rates hovering around 230. This explosive batting has transformed India's T20 approach, with the third match resembling an extended Power Play session. The ferocity has been such that India chased down targets of 209 and 154 in the last two games using just 25.2 combined overs.
However, this batting blitz has somewhat papered over the below-par returns from frontline spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. Kuldeep has managed just two wickets in as many matches while leaking runs at 9.5 per over. His struggles mirror his performance in the preceding ODI series, where he claimed three wickets across three games at an economy of 7.28. The left-arm wrist spinner endured three particularly costly overs that went for 32 runs in the previous match, despite India restricting New Zealand to 153/9.
Spin Selection Dilemma and Bowling Combinations
Chakravarthy presents a slightly different case, having featured in two high-scoring contests where New Zealand posted 190 and 208. While he sat out the third T20I, the usual sharpness has been missing from his bowling, though the brief break might have helped him recharge. In this context, team management faces interesting selection decisions. Ravi Bishnoi, who returned impressive figures of 4-0-18-2 in Guwahati, could be retained, with Chakravarthy potentially returning in place of Kuldeep to give the latter a breather.
The hosts will also monitor Axar Patel's fitness closely. The all-rounder has been sidelined since the opening match in Nagpur due to a finger injury, and his availability could influence the final bowling combination. With the Visakhapatnam pitch and expected dew likely to aid run-scoring once again, another high-scoring affair seems probable, putting additional pressure on bowlers from both sides.
Samson's Struggle and Team Support
One concern for India has been Sanju Samson's lean run despite opening the innings. The Kerala batter has managed only 16 runs across three matches, with a top score of 10. However, he received strong backing from bowling coach Morne Morkel, who expressed confidence that Samson is "one knock away" from rediscovering his form. With Tilak Varma still unavailable, Samson is likely to get another opportunity, possibly at No. 3, as the team builds toward the T20 World Cup.
During optional training sessions, Samson spent over 30 minutes in the nets, taking throwdowns and facing various bowlers. After a tentative start, he began timing the ball more sweetly, showing signs of returning form. He also had extended discussions with head coach Gautam Gambhir and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, indicating the team's commitment to helping him through this challenging phase.
New Zealand's Uphill Battle and World Cup Focus
For New Zealand, little has clicked in this series. While their batters have shown brief flashes of brilliance, the bowlers have struggled to contain India's relentless onslaught. Jacob Duffy, with an economy of 10.30, has been their most economical bowler, with others enduring heavy punishment. Unless the visitors find quick answers, another tough outing appears likely.
New Zealand bowling coach Jacob Oram acknowledged the challenges but emphasized the bigger picture of preparing for the upcoming T20 World Cup. "Historically New Zealand have peaked well during the ICC events," Oram stated, suggesting that the team is using this series as preparation for the global tournament. He also mentioned the potential return of express pacer Lockie Ferguson, which could add a fresh dimension to their bowling attack for the remaining matches.
Rankings Movement and Individual Performances
The series has produced significant movement in ICC T20I rankings. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has moved back into the top ten batters, climbing five places to seventh position following his prolific run. Abhishek Sharma has strengthened his position at the top with 929 rating points, extending his lead to 80 points. Among bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah gained four places to move to 13th, while Varun Chakravarthy maintains his position at the top.
All-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube have also seen ranking improvements, with Pandya moving to third and Dube jumping five places to eleventh. For New Zealand, Glenn Phillips has moved 18 places to 44th in batting rankings following his performances against India.
Teams and Match Context
India Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Ravi Bishnoi.
New Zealand Squad: Mitchell Santner (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, Lockie Ferguson, Ish Sodhi, Tim Seifert.
With the series already decided, both teams will approach this match with different objectives. India will look to address their spin concerns and give opportunities to players on the fringe, while New Zealand will aim to salvage pride and build momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup. The Visakhapatnam encounter promises another exciting chapter in this lopsided but compelling series.
