Visakhapatnam, India - India is set to face New Zealand in the fourth T20I of the five-match series today at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. Having already secured the series with a dominant 3-0 lead, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side will be aiming for a 4-0 lead and eventually a clean sweep against the Kiwis.
Yadav on the Verge of a Milestone
Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian captain, has been in tremendous form and is on the verge of joining Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in an elite list of T20I achievements. Yadav has a brilliant record as captain, having led India to six consecutive bilateral series wins and the Asia Cup in 2025. Under his captaincy, India has won 31 out of 41 matches. He surpassed Virat Kohli in terms of wins as captain in T20Is, with Kohli leading India to 30 wins in 50 matches from 2017 to 2021. Suryakumar is now only behind MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma on this list.
In the current series, Suryakumar Yadav is leading the scoring charts with 171 runs, including two half-centuries. His recent scores of 32 (22) and 82 (37) demonstrate his good form. With another good performance, he could solidify his position among the top T20I players and further establish his leadership credentials.
India's Dominance in the Series
India has displayed an exceptional performance in the series so far, winning the first three matches convincingly. In the third T20I, India defeated New Zealand by eight wickets, with Abhishek Sharma scoring an unbeaten 68 off 28 balls and Suryakumar Yadav contributing 57 not out off 26 balls. Jasprit Bumrah's impressive bowling figures of 3/17 further contributed to India's victory.
Focus on Sanju Samson
While the team has been performing well, the form of Sanju Samson remains a concern. Samson has been out of touch, scoring only 10, 6, and 0 in the first three games. With Ishan Kishan also in contention, Samson needs to score big in the remaining matches to secure his place in the team for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, where India will be defending their title at home.
Team Changes
New Zealand has released Kristian Clarke and Tim Robinson from their squad ahead of the fourth T20I, with Lockie Ferguson and James Neesham returning to the team. India may also tweak their side to give game time to players on the bench. Axar Patel is expected to return to the team, replacing Kuldeep Yadav, while Ravi Bishnoi is likely to retain his place.
Match Details
The fourth T20I between India and New Zealand will be held in Visakhapatnam on January 28, 2026. The toss is scheduled for 6:30 PM IST, and the match will begin at 7:00 PM IST. The match will be broadcast live on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar.
