IND vs NZ 4th T20I: New Zealand End Losing Streak with Massive 50-Run Win

What a match it was in Visakhapatnam! After three consecutive defeats, New Zealand finally found their rhythm and delivered a complete performance to defeat India by 50 runs in the fourth T20I. Tim Seifert's blistering 62 off 36 balls set the tone, Mitchell Santner's captaincy was spot on, and despite Shivam Dube's heroic 65 off just 23 balls, India couldn't chase down the 216-run target. The series now stands at 3-1 in India's favor with one game remaining. Let's dive deep into this thriller that had everything – power-hitting, crucial wickets, and a few heart-stopping moments!

Current Situation: Series Already Decided But Pride at Stake

Coming into this match, India had already sealed the five-match T20I series with a 3-0 lead. The Men in Blue were looking to complete a whitewash and build momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, which kicks off on February 7. For New Zealand, this was about pride, confidence, and fine-tuning their combinations before the mega event.

The Kiwis were missing some key players in the first three matches, but with the return of players and fresh legs in the squad, they desperately needed a win to lift their spirits. This match at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam became a perfect opportunity for both teams to experiment while keeping an eye on the World Cup preparations.

India's captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to field first, expecting dew to play a factor later in the evening. New Zealand made one change, while India brought in Arshdeep Singh for Ishan Kishan, who picked up a niggle in the previous game.

Match Summary: New Zealand's Clinical Performance

New Zealand posted a massive 215 for 7 in their 20 overs, thanks to a sensational opening partnership and a late flourish from Daryl Mitchell. India's chase never got going as they lost wickets regularly and were eventually bowled out for 165 in 18.4 overs, losing by 50 runs.

New Zealand Innings: Seifert and Conway Set the Platform

The opening partnership between Tim Seifert and Devon Conway was absolutely explosive. They put on 100 runs in just 8.1 overs, their first century opening stand against India in T20Is since 2017. Seifert was the aggressor from ball one, smashing the Indian pacers all around the park.

Tim Seifert scored 62 runs off 36 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes. He reached his fifty in just 25 balls, which is the joint-fastest fifty by a New Zealand batter against India. The wicketkeeper-batter attacked Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana fearlessly, even his edges were flying over fielders for boundaries!

Devon Conway played the perfect supporting role, scoring 44 off 23 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes. He took his time initially against the pacers but then unleashed himself against the spinners, particularly Ravi Bishnoi in the powerplay, hitting him for two fours and a six in one over.

New Zealand raced to 71 in the powerplay – their best against India in T20Is. However, once the spinners came on, the story changed. Kuldeep Yadav broke the opening stand by dismissing Conway, who mistimed a loft to extra cover. Jasprit Bumrah then got Rachin Ravindra with a clever slower ball for a caught and bowled.

Arshdeep Singh's off-cutter did the trick to remove Seifert, who couldn't clear long-off. Glenn Phillips showed some promise with crisp boundaries but fell to Kuldeep, chipping to long-on where Rinku Singh took an excellent catch. Rinku was outstanding in the field, taking 4 catches – joint-most for an Indian outfielder in T20Is alongside Ajinkya Rahane.

From 100 for 0 in 8.1 overs, New Zealand slipped to 137 for 4 and then 168 for 6 in the 17th over. Things were looking dicey for the visitors.

Daryl Mitchell's Heroics Save New Zealand

This is where Daryl Mitchell stepped up. The experienced all-rounder has a knack for rescuing New Zealand from tight situations, and he did it again. Mitchell hammered 39 not out off just 18 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes.

He took on Jasprit Bumrah in the 19th over, smashing him for a four and a six. That over went for 19 runs – Bumrah's second-costliest over in his T20I career! Zak Foulkes also chipped in with some crucial boundaries. Harshit Rana conceded 14 runs in the final over, and New Zealand finished strongly at 215 for 7 – their second-highest total against India in T20Is.

India's Chase: Disaster from the Start

India's chase got off to the worst possible start. Abhishek Sharma, who had been in explosive form with 152 runs from three matches at a strike rate of 271.43, fell for a golden duck! He charged down the track to Matt Henry and carved the ball straight to Devon Conway at deep point.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav walked in at number 3 and looked uncomfortable from the start. He was squared up on his first ball, almost got caught and bowled on his fifth, and then fell for just 8 runs. Jacob Duffy bent low in his follow-through to take a stunning catch and bowled. India were 9 for 2 in two overs – absolutely rattled!

Sanju Samson's Struggles Continue

This was Sanju Samson's opportunity to prove himself after scores of 10, 6, and 0 in the first three T20Is. There's been a lot of debate about whether Ishan Kishan should replace him when Tilak Varma returns from injury.

Samson started weirdly, staying back to full balls and almost pre-meditating the short delivery. He looked in decent touch when he laced Ish Sodhi through the covers and whipped Jacob Duffy over deep midwicket for a six in typical Samson style. He scored 24 off 15 balls with 3 fours and 1 six, but just when he was getting set, Mitchell Santner clean bowled him with a beauty. India were 57 for 3 after 7.1 overs.

Hardik Pandya didn't last long either, scoring just 2 runs off 5 balls before getting caught by Zakary Foulkes off Santner's bowling. India were 63 for 4, and the chase was slipping away fast.

Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube's Heroic Fight

Rinku Singh walked in at number 4 and tried to steady the ship. He scored 39 runs off 30 balls and built partnerships to keep India in the hunt. But the real fireworks came from Shivam Dube!

Dube came to the crease with India under pressure and immediately went into beast mode. He smashed Ish Sodhi for 29 runs in one over – 2, 4, 6, 4, 6, 6 – all massive sixes! Poor Sodhi just kept bowling in Dube's arc and paid the price.

Shivam Dube hammered a 15-ball fifty – the third-fastest fifty by an Indian batter in T20Is! He finished with 65 runs off just 23 balls with 2 fours and 7 sixes. The man was hitting them out of the stadium!

For a brief moment, it looked like Dube might pull off a miracle. He was given out LBW to Duffy but reviewed it successfully after getting an inside edge. He then smashed Duffy for two more sixes to bring up his fifty.

But cricket is a cruel game sometimes. On the last ball of the 15th over, Dube was run out for 65, and that was virtually the end of India's chase. The team needed 71 runs from 30 balls, and without Dube, there was no hope.

Mitchell Santner: Captain's Knock with the Ball

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner was absolutely outstanding with the ball. He picked up 3 wickets for just 26 runs and controlled the middle overs beautifully. He removed Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah at crucial moments.

Jacob Duffy also bowled brilliantly, taking 2 for 33, including the crucial wicket of Suryakumar Yadav. Ish Sodhi picked up two wickets despite being hammered by Dube, dismissing Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh in one over.

India were eventually bowled out for 165 in 18.4 overs, losing by 50 runs. New Zealand celebrated their first win of the series with great passion!

Player of the Match: Tim Seifert

Tim Seifert won the Player of the Match award for his explosive 36-ball 62. In the post-match presentation, he said: "Sometimes you get a bit lucky early on. The intent we wanted to put on the bowlers early, you get top edges sometimes. Looked to play straight, once you get the first ball with Bumrah, things get easier. The intent and putting pressure was what we wanted to do."

He added: "If the pitches are anything like this series, the T20 World Cup will be high-scoring."

Key Statistics from the Match

• New Zealand's 215/7 is their second-highest total against India in T20Is
• Tim Seifert's 25-ball fifty is joint-fastest for a New Zealand batter against India
• Seifert and Conway's 100-run partnership was New Zealand's first century opening stand against India in T20Is since 2017
• New Zealand scored 71 in the powerplay – their best against India in T20Is
• Shivam Dube's 15-ball fifty is the third-fastest by an Indian in T20Is (behind Yuvraj Singh's 12-ball fifty in 2007)
• Rinku Singh took 4 catches – joint-most for an Indian outfielder in T20Is
• Bumrah's 19-run 19th over was his second-costliest over in T20I career
• Mitchell Santner's 3/26 was a captain's performance

Pitch Report and Conditions

The ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam offered a good batting surface. Both captains expected dew to play a role later in the evening, which is why Suryakumar Yadav chose to bowl first after winning the toss. The last time Vizag hosted a T20I in November 2023, India chased down 209 against Australia in the final over, so high scores were expected.

The wicket was true and the ball was coming onto the bat nicely. Spinners got some turn in the middle overs, but the boundaries were short enough for big hitters to clear them comfortably. The weather was humid, which made fielding challenging, but the conditions were perfect for T20 cricket.

What This Means for Both Teams

For New Zealand, this win is massive for their confidence heading into the T20 World Cup. Captain Mitchell Santner said after the match: "We are thinking about what we are likely to get at the World Cup. We have a couple of guys back for the last game, which is nice. Wickets at the start are crucial, making our job as spinners easier.

For India, this loss is a wake-up call. The top order's failure is concerning, especially with Sanju Samson scoring just 40 runs in four innings (10, 6, 0, 24). The debate about whether Ishan Kishan should replace him will only intensify now.

On the positive side, Shivam Dube showed he can win matches single-handedly if he gets going. The bowling, particularly Kuldeep Yadav (2/39) and Arshdeep Singh (2/33), was decent but couldn't control the death overs.

Fantasy Cricket Analysis

If you played fantasy cricket for this match, Tim Seifert would have been a dream captaincy choice! Here's how the top performers did:

Top Fantasy Points Scorers:

• Tim Seifert: 62 runs + Man of the Match = Massive points
• Shivam Dube: 65 runs at 282.60 strike rate = Explosive points
• Mitchell Santner: 3 wickets + Captain bonus = Great all-round points
• Devon Conway: 44 runs in quick time = Solid contribution
• Rinku Singh: 39 runs + 4 catches = All-round excellence

Fantasy Flops:

• Abhishek Sharma: Golden duck = Disaster for those who picked him as captain
• Hardik Pandya: Just 2 runs = Disappointing
• Suryakumar Yadav: Only 8 runs = Below expectations

Looking Ahead: Fifth T20I in Thiruvananthapuram

The final T20I will be played in Thiruvananthapuram in three days. India will look to bounce back and end the series 4-1, while New Zealand will aim to build on this momentum and make it 3-2.

Finn Allen is expected to join the New Zealand squad for the final game, which could add even more firepower to their batting. For India, the big question is whether they'll give Axar Patel a game (he's been recovering from a hand injury) and whether Sanju Samson gets another chance or Tilak Varma returns.

The T20 World Cup starts on February 7, so both teams will use this final match to finalize their best XI and combinations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Who won the Man of the Match in India vs New Zealand 4th T20I?

Tim Seifert won the Player of the Match award for his explosive knock of 62 runs off 36 balls. His innings included 7 fours and 3 sixes, and he gave New Zealand a flying start in the powerplay. He reached his fifty in just 25 balls, setting the tone for New Zealand's 215/7.

Q2: What was the final score of India vs New Zealand 4th T20I?

New Zealand scored 215 for 7 in 20 overs (Tim Seifert 62, Devon Conway 44, Daryl Mitchell 39 not out). India were bowled out for 165 in 18.4 overs (Shivam Dube 65, Rinku Singh 39). New Zealand won by 50 runs.

Q3: Who scored the fastest fifty in this match?

Shivam Dube scored the fastest fifty in this match off just 15 balls, which is the third-fastest fifty by an Indian batter in T20I history. Tim Seifert also scored a quick fifty off 25 balls for New Zealand.

Q4: What is the current series scoreline between India and New Zealand?

After the 4th T20I, India leads the five-match series 3-1. India won the first three matches comprehensively, but New Zealand bounced back with a 50-run victory in Visakhapatnam.

Q5: Where and when is the 5th T20I between India and New Zealand?

The fifth and final T20I will be played in Thiruvananthapuram. The exact date wasn't mentioned in official sources, but it's scheduled to take place in three days from the 4th T20I (which was on January 28, 2026).

Q6: How many wickets did Mitchell Santner take in the 4th T20I?

Mitchell Santner, the New Zealand captain, took 3 wickets for 26 runs in his 4 overs. He dismissed Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumbar at crucial moments to derail India's chase.

Q7: What happened to Ishan Kishan in this match?

Ishan Kishan didn't play in the 4th T20I as he picked up a niggle (minor injury) in the previous game. Arshdeep Singh came into the XI in his place, meaning India went with 5 specialist bowlers and one batter short.

Conclusion

What a rollercoaster! New Zealand finally got their act together and delivered a performance that showed why they're always dangerous in ICC tournaments. Tim Seifert's fearless batting, Devon Conway's support, Daryl Mitchell's finishing skills, and Mitchell Santner's brilliant captaincy – everything clicked for the Kiwis.

For India, Shivam Dube's heroics will be remembered, but the top-order collapse and Sanju Samson's continued struggles are worrying signs just days before the T20 World Cup. The good thing is, they've already won the series, so there's no pressure – just an opportunity to fine-tune things in the final match.

One game to go, folks! Will India finish 4-1, or can New Zealand make it 3-2 and give us a thrilling finale? Either way, the T20 World Cup 2026 can't come soon enough! Both these teams are showing they're ready to entertain and compete at the highest level. Bring it on!