The five-match T20I series between India and New Zealand has reached a decisive stage. India have dominated the series so far and taken an unassailable 3–0 lead after winning the first three matches convincingly. The fourth T20I will be played today at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam.
Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India will look to extend their dominance and move closer to a clean sweep, while New Zealand will aim to restore some pride by keeping the series alive. Here is the complete preview of this crucial encounter.
IND vs NZ Match Details
- Match: India vs New Zealand, 4th T20I
- Venue: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
- Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026
- Toss Time: 6:30 PM IST
- Match Start: 7:00 PM IST
- Live Telecast: Star Sports Network (Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports Hindi)
- Live Streaming: Disney+ Hotstar (subscription required)
- Weather Update: Clear conditions expected. Temperature will range between 25–28°C with humidity around 70%. Dew is likely to play a role in the second innings. No rain is forecast.
India vs New Zealand T20Is Head-to-Head Record
India and New Zealand have shared a competitive rivalry in T20 internationals, but India have enjoyed the upper hand in recent years.
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 28 |
| India Wins | 16 |
| New Zealand Wins | 11 |
| Tie / No Result | 1 |
| Matches in India | India 10 wins, New Zealand 4 wins |
| Last 5 T20Is | India 4 wins, New Zealand 1 win |
| Last T20I in Visakhapatnam | India won (2019) |
Pitch Report – ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
The Visakhapatnam pitch is known to be batting-friendly, especially in white-ball cricket.
- Pitch Behaviour: Fast bowlers may get some movement early on, but the surface generally settles quickly and becomes ideal for stroke play.
- Spinners: Spinners can get some assistance during the middle overs, but it is not a turning track.
- Average First Innings Score: 180–200
- Dew Factor: Dew is expected in the evening, making chasing easier.
- Toss Impact: Teams winning the toss may prefer to bowl first.
- Boundary Dimensions:
- Square boundaries: 60–65 metres
- Straight boundaries: 70–75 metres
- Ground Records:
- Highest T20 score: 209/4
- Highest successful chase: 198/6
- Expected Score: A total of 190+ could be competitive.
IND vs NZ Probable Playing XI
India Probable XI
Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav
Team Update:
- Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the match due to injury.
- Axar Patel is fit and expected to continue in the XI.
- India may rotate one fast bowler, but the spin combination is likely to remain unchanged.
New Zealand Probable XI
Tim Seifert, Devon Conway (wk), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Jacob Foulkes, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy
Possible Change:
- Lockie Ferguson or Kyle Jamieson could be brought in to strengthen the pace attack.
Injury Update
- India:
- Washington Sundar – ruled out due to injury
- Jasprit Bumrah – rested for the entire series
- Other players are fully fit
- New Zealand:
- No fresh injury concerns
- Trent Boult and Kane Williamson are not part of the series
Match Prediction and Key Points
- Conditions: Batting-friendly pitch with dew expected
- Favourite Team: India
- Likely Result: India have a strong chance to take a 4–0 lead
- Players to Watch:
- India: Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, Rinku Singh, Kuldeep Yadav
- New Zealand: Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner
- With the T20 World Cup 2026 approaching, India are using this series to test combinations and build momentum. New Zealand, on the other hand, will be eager to avoid a whitewash.
