Visakhapatnam: New Zealand put up a strong all-round performance to beat India by 50 runs in the fourth T20I at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium on Wednesday, ending their losing streak in the series. Although the visitors had already conceded the five-match series, the Black Caps showed resilience and character to bounce back with vigor, scoring 215 for seven before bowling India out for 165.
When asked to bat first, New Zealand showed clear intent and immediately put India under pressure. Openers Tim Seifert and Devon Conway went hard from the first round, punishing anything that was loose and taking advantage of the short boundaries. The duo reached a century in just 8.2 overs, setting the stage for a challenging evening for the home side.
Seifert was particularly aggressive, hitting 62 off just 36 balls, while Conway played the perfect supporting role with a brisk 44 off 23 balls. Their fearless approach in the powerplay reflected the kind of starts India had experienced earlier in the series.
India managed to fight back during the middle and death overs. Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav bowled with discipline and took two wickets each, slowing down the scoring rate and preventing the total score from spiraling out of control. However, Daryl Mitchell ensured New Zealand finished strongly by smashing 39 off just 18 balls to take the total past the 210 mark.
Chasing 216 was always going to be a difficult task and India’s problems started immediately. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed on the first ball, giving New Zealand their first swing. From then on, the visitors tightened the screws with sharp fielding and regular wickets and never let India settle down.
Despite the pressure, Shivam Dube delivered a stunning innings that briefly sparked hope in the packed stadium. As Dube left the chase behind, he countered in sensational fashion, hitting 65 off just 23 balls. His hits included three fours and seven massive sixes, many of which disappeared into the stands with effortless power.
For a few overs, Dube’s clean stroke completely changed the mood. But as wickets continued to fall at the other end, the required run rate continued to rise. After Dube was sent off, India’s chase lost its last spark and the hosts were bowled out for 165.
After the match, captain Suryakumar Yadav explained the thinking behind the Indian team’s composition and approach. He revealed that the management had consciously chosen six specialist batsmen and five bowlers to test the strength of the squad.
“We intentionally struck out six batters,” Surya said. “We wanted to have five bowlers and challenge ourselves. We wanted to play the players who were part of the World Cup squad. Otherwise we would have tried other options.”
He added that India wanted to test itself in difficult pursuit situations. “We did well at setting goals. This game was about seeing how we react when we’re down two or three and go 180-200.”
The New Zealand bowlers executed their plans skillfully, especially in the powerplay. Matt Henry emphasized the importance of faith and adaptability. “To come here and play against a good team to get back on our feet shows a lot about the character of this group,” he said. “As long as you can take wickets, that’s what stems the flow of runs.”
Captain Mitchell Santner expressed similar thoughts, praising the aggressive start to his opening balls. “The way we started the powerplay was exactly what India did to us,” he said. “Early wickets make our job as spinners a lot easier.”
Player of the game Tim Seifert spoke about keeping his intentions regardless of the conditions. “Every wicket is different,” he said. “It’s important to be able to adapt and still be yourself. If the pitches are anything like they were in this series, the T20 World Cup will be a high scorer.”
While India still have the lead in the series, the fourth T20I was a timely reminder that dynamics can change quickly in the shortest format – and that on any given night, execution, not reputation, will determine the outcome.
