India take on New Zealand in the fourth T20I of their ongoing five-game series at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, January 28. India have already wrapped the series up by winning the first three games, and New Zealand are playing solely for pride. However, the home team, who now have a 3-0 lead, will want to make it 5-0 and complete a whitewash over their opponents. The failure of the Kiwi batters to convert their starts into big scores has proved to be quite costly for them in this series.
India, too, have struggled at the top of the order, with only Abhishek Sharma firing (84, 0 and 68*). His partner Sanju Samson returned to the top after ODI and Test skipper Shubman Gill was dropped. Gill has found the going tough (10, 6 and 0), and might face the axe. At the same time, Ishan Kishan and Jitesh Sharma wait in the ranks to pick up the wicketkeeping gloves. India’s bowling has been heavily dependent on Jasprit Bumrah. Now it has been heartening to see the likes of Ravi Bishnoi and Hardik Pandya come to the party as well.
Predicted Teams
IND: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.
NZ: Tim Robinson, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry, Kristian Clarke.
Key Players
Ravi Bishnoi (IND): Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi starred for India with two wickets in the third T20I while giving away just 18 runs. Bishnoi is known for being quick-paced with his deliveries and rarely tosses the ball up for the batters to hit. Although he is not exactly known to turn the ball, Bishnoi bowls at a tough length, which does not allow batters to get under it either. He is useful in this format of the game since he can bowl at any time with various field settings.
Glenn Phillips (NZ): Glenn Phillips is among the most talented T20 batters in the world currently, and as a result, is highly sought after by teams in franchise leagues. The middle-order batter is known to hit the ball a long way, and can also run quickly between the wickets. Phillips is a brilliant fielder as well, known for picking up tough catches and creating chances with accurate throws to run opposition batters out.
Match Prediction
India have been in fine form this series, and appear to be on a juggernaut that does not know how to stop. They will also aim to continue in the same vein of form in the upcoming T20 World Cup. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav has rediscovered his form (82* and 57*) and given himself a huge boost in confidence. India have such a balanced squad that they can chop and change their XI and still be able to pick up a combination that can overpower the Kiwis comfortably.
India vs New Zealand – Overview Of 3rd T20I (25.01.2026)
India defeated New Zealand by 8 wickets in the third T20I of the ongoing five-match series at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Sunday, January 25. With this win, India have made it three in a row, and picked up the series as well. They lead it 3-0 with two dead rubbers yet to be played. Nonetheless, Suryakumar Yadav’s men will be keen on winning those matches as well, and effecting a clean sweep.
New Zealand batted first in Guwahati and lost three wickets with the score being just 34 inside the 6th over. Glenn Phillips (48) and Mark Chapman (32) then steadied the ship somewhat and lent some respectability to the Kiwi batting unit. However, their lower order faltered big time, except Mitchell Santer (27), and the visitors ended up with a below par score of 153-9. Jasprit Bumrah led the way for India with three wickets while Ravi Bishnoi also scalped 2-18 in his four overs.
In response, India lost their opener-wicketkeeper Sanju Samson off the first ball of the innings, bowled to Matt Henry. Thereafter, his fellow opener Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan came together to build a fine partnership of 53 runs before the latter was dismissed for 28. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav then strode out to the crease and led his team to the winning line, scoring a brilliant unbeaten 57. Sharma, on the other hand, remained unbeaten on 68, getting to his fifty off just 14 balls. The Kiwi bowlers were just not able to control their lengths and were punished to all corners of the ground. India were home by the end of the 10th over, and this capped off an extraordinary performance.
