Visakhapatnam | India opted to bowl first in the fourth T20I against New Zealand at Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, with captain Suryakumar Yadav citing humidity and expected dew later in the evening as key factors behind the decision.
The hosts made one change to their playing XI, bringing back left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh in place of Ishan Kishan, who picked up a niggle in the previous match. The move signals a bowling-heavy approach, with India fielding a formidable attack featuring Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Ravi Bishnoi.
“We noticed a lot of dew during practice. It felt like a good wicket, and we want to repeat our good habits and entertain the crowd,” Suryakumar said at the toss.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner also admitted he would have preferred to bowl first, acknowledging that dew could make conditions tricky later on. The visitors made one change as well, drafting in Zak Foulkes for Kyle Jamieson, with James Neesham and Lockie Ferguson still unavailable due to fitness concerns.
India lead the five-match series 3–0 and have already sealed it, but the contest holds significance with the T20 World Cup 2026 in mind. The spotlight remains on explosive opener Abhishek Sharma, who has been in destructive form, while Bumrah’s return to action continues to be closely monitored.
The Vizag pitch has traditionally been a high-scoring one, with India having chased down 209 at the venue in their last T20I here. New Zealand openers Tim Seifert and Devon Conway will look to give their side a solid start against a potent Indian bowling lineup.
Short Summary
India chose to bowl first against New Zealand in the fourth T20I in Vizag, opting for a bowling-heavy XI as Ishan Kishan missed out due to a niggle.
