India’s veteran batter Virat Kohli trying to calm someone down after a wicket is a rare sight. Usually, he is the one roaring and celebrating a wicket wildly, even more than the bowler who took it. But on November 13, in the fourth ODI of the series against New Zealand, Kohli tried to douse the flames as young pacer Gurnoor Brar got in the face of Kiwi opener Tim Seifert while celebrating his wicket. Kohli prevented Brar from crossing the line and inviting harsh ICC sanctions during the send-off to Seifert.

Earlier in the contest, Brar took a beating from Seifert in his first over. Seifert hit him for a six and two fours. Brar had a few words to say after getting hit for a boundary off the fifth ball. After an expensive over, he was taken off the attack by stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer. 

Brar was handed the ball again in the 12th over. This time he used an extra pacer to get the better of Seifert. The opener went for the pull shot but could not hit it out of the ground. Wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan ran towards fine-leg and put in a dive to take the catch. As soon as the catch was taken, Brar roared and got in the face of Seifert. The Kiwi opener was obviously not happy. Before the tensions could escalate, Kohli rushed in and pushed Brar away as Seifert walked off the field.

Brar set to face another ICC sanction

Earlier this year, during the ODI series against England, Brar was handed a demerit point for throwing the ball at opener Ben Duckett on follow-through. As Duckett had no intention of getting out of the crease and the throw was unnecessary, merely a reaction to the boundary on the previous delivery, he was handed a demerit point and let off by the match referee with a warning.

Brar is likely to be handed at least one demerit point for his unprovoked altercation with BlackCaps wicketkeeper-batter. If the tall pacer continues to operate similarly, he may face a ban upon accumulating four demerit points in the 24-month period which started in July 2026.

ICC is likely to announce the sanction on November 13 or 14, ahead of the fifth ODI of the series, which is scheduled for November 15.

Seifert breaks 27-year-old Kiwi record

In batting-friendly conditions at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, Seifert raced to his half-century from 39 balls off the second delivery of the 10th over. This is his maiden ODI half-century. The 31-year-old is the first Kiwi batter to reach his half-century in the first 10 overs of an ODI against India. The previous record for highest score in first 10 overs of an ODI for New Zealand against India belonged to Bryan Young. In 1999 at Wellington, he was unbeaten on 47 off 35 balls after 10 overs.

Seifert departed after scoring 58 runs from 48 balls, featuring six fours and three sixes. He shared an 85-run opening partnership with Will Young. Later in the game, Young went on to score his fifth ODI century.

India, New Zealand make multiple changes for 4th ODI

Earlier, stand-in skipper Iyer won the toss and opted to bowl first. He revealed that the dew factor led him to choose to bowl. With skipper Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul leaving for Test preparations, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kishan replaced them. Kuldeep Yadav walked into the side as well. 

Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner revealed six changes in the lineup after their several players left for the Test series preparation as well. 

"We got Nick Kelly at three, Foxy (Foxcroft) in as well at four, Finn Allen, Kristian Clarke, Michael Bracewell, Matt Henry. It gives guys opportunities, which is nice. Obviously building the depth of our team leading into a World Cup year and then I guess them challenging themselves against a very, very good team,” Santner said at the coin toss. 

“With the schedules and stuff, I think India obviously had to do the same with the quick turnaround for the Test and then go to Australia. I think it's probably part of what we had to do. But yeah, it gives guys opportunities, which is nice,” he added.

Before the fourth ODI, India were leading the series 2-0. The third ODI was washed out due to rain. After the coin toss, not a single ball was bowled.

India vs New Zealand 4th ODI Playing XIs -

New Zealand: Tim Seifert (wk), Will Young, Nick Kelly, Dean Foxcroft, Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Matthew Fisher.

India: Rohit Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh.