India vs New Zealand (4th T20I): Weather, Pitch, Head to Head & Match Prediction

When India took on New Zealand in the 3rd T20I, they pretty much sealed the series, and now the 4th match is a battle of who in the Indian squad is locking down a World Cup spot, and who is just along for the ride.

Venue and match context in Visakhapatnam

Well-known for its unpredictable nature, the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam has been the venue for the 4th T20I, on January 28th, 2026. Coming off a successful toss win and opting to bowl, India exploited the dew and a New Zealand lineup that had been thoroughly routed, and basically crushed them in the first few minutes of the game.

New Zealand’s 0-3 state and the powerplay problem

New Zealand, at 0-3, were in a rough state when they started this match, but still showed some flashes of brilliance with the bat, but collapsed into India’s well-calibrated pace and spin trap. Their bowlers have found themselves without a plan when the powerplay got out of hand.

What India are testing: roles under pressure

India’s strength in this match is in answering the questions posed by the coaching staff, such as who gets off to a flying start, who finishes cleanly, and who can nail their job when the pitch offers nothing, because that’s what this match is essentially.

How India built the 3-0 lead

India’s crushing lead in this series was no one-hit wonder; they had a game-changing performance in Nagpur, posting 238/7, powered by Abhishek Sharma’s 84 off 35 with eight sixes, then defending that total for a 48-run win against New Zealand who managed 190/7.

Raipur was even more emphatic with New Zealand putting up 208/6, a total that’s meant to be “safe” most evenings, and India chased 209/3 in 15.2 overs and had only a tiny slip-up when they found themselves 6/2, but Ishan Kishan’s 76 off 32 and Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 82 off 37 knocked the wind out of New Zealand, sending the score to 155/2 in 10 overs, making it look more like a net session than a game.

Series snapshot

The frame of the 4th T20I: speed control and a “real” challenge

The frame for the 4th T20I is basically a showcase of India’s dominance in dictating the speed of the match. They’re essentially going into a game they can’t control, when New Zealand face India in the 4th T20I.

Why bowling first matters, and what India want to learn

Coming into the match, India made a wise decision to bowl first, and even a decent surface will tend to get friendlier to batting as the moisture settles in and the ball loses its grip. Well-known to be aggressive, India’s chase numbers in this series are too loud for them to not be confident in their ability to chase down the target.

It’s a great way to test New Zealand too. When you bowl first on a flat wicket you figure out who can stay calm under pressure, and you find out quickly. India’s got an attack that can knock out any batting line-up, but the coaching staff will want to see the proof: can their fast bowlers nail the yorkers with a wet ball, can their spinners find the right lengths with the dew on the surface, and can the fielding stay sharp on a greasy outfield.

New Zealand batting first: the only path to a “real” contest

New Zealand batting first is their chance to finally force India into a real challenge, rather than a leisurely stroll, but they face the issue that “real” chases in this series have required 200 plus scores.

India’s XI and the message of roles

India’s line-up for this game sends a message about who does what, rather than just the players’ names, starting with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson leading the charge at the top, Suryakumar Yadav at number three as captain and power house, Rinku Singh as the smooth finisher, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube bringing the power and balance, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah in the left-right pace attack, and two wrist spinners in Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav.

It’s essentially a World Cup-ready combination, blending left-right batting, explosive middle order, and deadly spin. Coming heading back from the bench is Ishan Kishan, and he’s giving India a chance to figure out what happens to their top order when he isn’t around to provide a bit of a wake-up call.

Samson’s proving ground and what “valuable” looks like

Sanju Samson has something to prove in this match, his series has been marked by explosive starts and sudden disappearances, but in a team that’s scoring at over ten runs per over, you still need an opener who can sit tight through one tight over without panicking, a 35 off 22 kind of innings can be more valuable than a wild 20 off eight if it sets up a platform for Surya.

Surya’s rhythm and game awareness in Vizag

For Surya, it’s about finding the right rhythm without getting too reckless. Vizag can concentrate on game awareness, deciding when to push the pedal to the floor and when to let a bowler finish their good over without giving away a release wicket, when in Visakhapatnam.

Rinku’s limited time, and what watchers still want to see

Coming from a quieter background, Rinku has had very little time to show his skills, but when Abhishek and Surya seal the game early, the finisher gets to be left in the background. The people watching will, however, still be interested in his ability to get off to a flyer, his technique in the final five overs if the chase goes that far, and how he takes on the spin in the end.

New Zealand’s partnership problem across the series

New Zealand’s main problem is too many almost-but-not-quite partnerships, and they have been consistently collapsing at the same point in the innings, time and time again.

In the first T20I, Glenn Phillips’ 78 off 40, and Mark Chapman’s 39 off 24 should have been the foundation for a strong chase. Yet the rest of the innings failed to find a steady rhythm, and they were left reeling at 190/7. The early wickets sent a jarring tone, then India’s bowling cut off any possibility of easy runs, forcing the New Zealand batsmen to take risks.

In the second match, New Zealand piled up 208/6, showing that they can post a massive score in India. However, they still couldn’t defend it and looked out of ideas when Kishan and Surya started to get going. When the opposing batsmen start hitting through the line with abandon, you need a plan that changes the way the batting takes place. New Zealand failed in that aspect, as they offered far too many same-pace and same-length balls to be batted for boundaries.

The story of their third match is encapsulated in their score of 153/9.

They never claimed the middle overs, nor found a partnership that could hold steady for a period. New Zealand’s opponents, India’s spinners and short-pitched balls squeezed them into high-risk shots, and the batting lineup could not sort out a lasting partnership.

New Zealand innings at a glance

The 60-plus partnership target

Coming into the 4th T20I, New Zealand’s batting should be looking to nail one partnership of sixty-plus that isn’t going to be too risky.

It’s not about batting slow, it’s about staving off the last seven overs, where Vizag gets to knock the ball out of the park.

Matchups: a plan for Abhishek and Surya vs spin

It was basically a batting demolition, when India’s Ravindra Jadeja posted 84 in Nagpur. Coming running over to Guwahi, he then made 154 look tiny. New Zealand’s fast bowlers need to decide how they’re going to take on him: whether to smash him over the stumps with a bit of protection in place on the leg-side boundary, or to try and tempt him into hitting a loose one with width, and hope for a mishit.

Suryakumar Yadav vs spin in the middle overs was the turning point in the Raipur chase. India were 6/2, and then Yadav and Kishan batted out any fear of spin. Yadav’s got the ability to score runs right in front of his face and against even very good length deliveries, and New Zealand’s best chance of getting him out is to mess with his eye line. Slower, wider deliveries and a deep point that’s actually a threat. If Yadav gets going with his “pick-up” shots, the middle overs will be a thing of the past.

New Zealand’s early-overs goal vs Bumrah and Arshdeep

Bumrah and Arshdeep’s left-right combination has given New Zealand a shock start many times. If they do it again, the rest of the batting line-up will be scrambling to catch up. The goal for New Zealand’s openers is straightforward: get through the first four overs with one wicket down or less. That would completely flip the game on its head.

Wrist-spin squeeze: Kuldeep and Bishnoi vs Phillips and Chapman

India’s wrist-spinners Kuldeep and Bishnoi, have found ways to shut down Phillips and Chapman in the past, sending them towards the long boundary, taking away the slog-sweep, and forcing straight drives against the spin. If India come out on top in this mini-battle, New Zealand will be running on fumes in their finishing overs.

Chasing in Vizag: new ball value, then skid

Vizag is usually a great place to chase a target, because the ball is new and the seamers can hold it for a bit.

But as the game goes on it gets very skiddy. If the dew kicks in, cutters lose their bite and the ball can skid onto the bat. New Zealand’s best strategy would be to unload the majority of the damage when the ball is still new and then hold on for dear life through India’s middle-overs squeeze without losing three wickets in one go.

They’ll be looking at a 190 chase, much like in Guwahati, when India are 85/2 after ten overs.

What India want next: reps for overs 16-20

Coming into the fourth T20I, a 3-0 lead has a tendency to lull teams into a false sense of security, and India still seem to be going full throttle. The main question is what they can hone.

Their chases in the last two matches ended abruptly, and that’s exactly what the coaching staff want.

But more reps for overs 16-20 would be a great thing to see. When the chase does go past 16 overs, it’ll be interesting to see who takes charge. Is it Rinku, Hardik, Dube, or Surya who will be there until the very end.

Wet-ball bowling and the value of hitting the blockhole

Bowling in wet conditions is not the same as bowling in dry conditions.

The team that can still hit the blockhole is the one that’s going to take the upper hand, and Bumrah’s skill set can be used anywhere. Harshit Rana and Arshdeep could use the bigger challenge of a slippery seam, and facing a batter who’s eyeing one boundary.

Kuldeep and Bishnoi together: shared roles on flat pitches

The luxury of having Kuldeep and Bishnoi in the same team gives them a chance to figure out how to work together.

Who takes the windier conditions, who goes up against the stronger batsman and who they can fire up for an attack on flat pitches, decisions that in international tournaments, decide semi-finals.

India’s opening balance: aggression without anarchy

India’s opening issue is not asking for a 60 off 30 from the openers every time.

They want one who will be in sync with Abhishek’s aggression but won’t create anarchy.

New Zealand’s pride and the “second wind” idea

New Zealand’s pride, is about containing the bleeding, then making their comeback, well-known as their “second wind”.

Well-known for their ability to get out of tight spots, New Zealand don’t need a miracle to win the 4th T20I against India. What they need to do is be less careless in the key areas, having a powerplay plan that doesn’t hand Abhishek a free swing, and having one bowler dominate the middle overs.

Phillips needs support, not a solo rescue act

When looking at the Indian team’s batting performance, one thing they require is a batting template that keeps Glenn Phillips in the game for a bit longer by providing him with support, rather than him bailing out the rest of the team on his own.

The 4th T20I as a platform for New Zealand tweaks

Coming into the 4th T20I, New Zealand can still work out who is going to fit into their next cycle and are going to take one big gamble, one rookie appearance, one tweak in the batting order could essentially turn the fourth match into a platform to springboard from.

Series recap and the toss-to-chase pattern

India took control of the series with a commanding display of massive scores and chases, going from a precarious 238/7 in Nagpur to an incredible 155/2 in ten overs in Guwahi, and the Raipur chase set the tone for their whole mindset.

After being 6/2, they still managed to score 209/3 in fifteen point two overs, thanks in large part to Kishan’s 76 off 32 and Surya’s 82 not out off 37.

New Zealand’s top performer has been Glenn Phillips, who produced a magnificent 78 off forty in the first T20I, but has been missing a consistent partner. India’s bowling strategy has been getting the wickets early, then applying pressure with wrist spin and held New Zealand to a tiny 153/9 in the last match.

The way they batted first after winning the toss in Vizag, suggests that they are going to go for a chase, and will rely on the dew and their current momentum to dictate the flow of the fourth IND vs NZ T20I.