India will face New Zealand in the fourth T20I of their five-match series at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30. India have already clinched the series with an unassailable 3-0 lead and will aim to extend their lead to 4-0 in the upcoming match.

New Zealand have struggled to contain India’s aggressive batting despite posting totals of 225, 180 and 198 in the first three matches. In the third T20I, India chased down a target of 199 in just 13.2 overs, leaving Mitchell Santner’s side with plenty to address before the next match.

With the series already decided, India could use the remaining games to test their bench strength. However, their top order remains in strong form, while Eden Park’s short boundaries could favour another high-scoring contest.

IND vs NZ 4th T20I Match Preview and Recent Form

New Zealand posted 198/3 in the third T20I after being asked to bat first. Finn Allen scored 40 off 25 balls, while Daryl Mitchell scored 89 off 52 deliveries at a strike rate of 171.15. Bevon Jacobs added 39 off 23 balls to help the hosts set a competitive target.

India responded with an aggressive chase. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashed 45 off 19 balls, helping India reach 118/0 in the six-over powerplay alongside Abhishek Sharma. Abhishek then scored 113 off 38 deliveries, hitting nine fours and 11 sixes at a strike rate of 297.37.

India reached 199/4 in 13.2 overs to secure a six-wicket win and their third consecutive victory in the series. However, India’s bowlers have struggled to contain the opposition, with none recording an economy rate below nine in the series.

New Zealand will look to their middle order for a stronger performance. Glenn Phillips has made 169 runs in his last three appearances. Their bowlers will also need to improve their control.

Kyle Jamieson was their most successful bowler in the third T20I, taking 2/45 in 3.2 overs. Matthew Fisher and Mitchell Santner claimed one wicket each but conceded runs at a high rate. The hosts must bowl with greater control to prevent another heavy loss at Eden Park.

IND vs NZ Live Streaming and Telecast: Where to Watch 4th T20I?

Cricket fans in India can watch the fourth T20I live on the Sony Sports Network. The match will also be available to stream on the SonyLIV app and website.

The match at Eden Park in Auckland is scheduled to start at 12:30 PM IST on Friday, October 30. The toss will take place at 12:00 PM IST, or 7:00 PM local time.

IND vs NZ Pitch Report: How Will Eden Park Play?

Eden Park is known for high-scoring T20 matches, thanks to its short straight boundaries. The pitch generally offers good pace and bounce, allowing batters to play their shots freely. The ground’s dimensions can make it difficult for bowlers to contain runs.

Fast bowlers may find some swing and bounce with the new ball, but they need to maintain tight lines and lengths. Spinners may get limited assistance from the surface and could come under pressure because of the short boundaries.

Teams may prefer to bowl first after winning the toss, as chasing can be attractive on a ground where boundaries are relatively easy to clear. Eden Park has hosted 37 T20 matches, with teams winning 16 times each while batting first and while chasing.

IND vs NZ T20I Stats at Eden Park

• Total T20 matches: 37

• Matches won batting first: 16

• Matches won bowling first: 16

• Average first-innings score: 159

• Average second-innings score: 149

• Highest total: 245/5 – Australia vs New Zealand

• Lowest total: 76 – Bangladesh vs New Zealand

• Highest successful chase: 245/5 – Australia vs New Zealand

• Lowest total defended: 108/6 – England Women vs New Zealand Women

• Best bowling figures: 5/18 – Tim Southee vs Pakistan

IND vs NZ Weather Forecast and Rain Threat at Eden Park

Auckland is expected to have mostly sunny skies on Friday. Temperatures are forecast to reach 18°C during the day before dropping to around 13°C in the evening.

The forecast suggests that rain is unlikely to disrupt the match, with a 0% hourly precipitation chance listed for the evening. Temperatures should remain cool, while moderate winds may slightly influence playing conditions.

IND vs NZ Team News and Squad Updates

India have a few injury concerns. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan missed the last two T20Is with a right adductor strain sustained in the series opener at Hagley Oval. His availability for the fourth match remains uncertain, as the BCCI has not issued a fresh update.

India may also consider rotating their pace attack. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has struggled to contain runs, conceding at an economy rate of 11.58 across 12 overs in the series. With the series already decided, India could use the remaining matches to assess their options.

New Zealand will be without fast bowlers Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson for the final two T20Is against India. Henry sustained a quadriceps injury during the second T20I and is expected to need around two weeks to recover. Ferguson injured his calf in the same match and has been ruled out for at least a week.

IND vs NZ Predicted Playing 11 Today

New Zealand Predicted Playing XI:

Tim Seifert, Finn Allen, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher.

India Predicted Playing XI:

Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav.

IND vs NZ Key Player Battles to Watch

Abhishek Sharma vs Mitchell Santner

Abhishek Sharma smashed 113 off 38 balls in the third T20I, putting New Zealand’s bowlers under pressure. Mitchell Santner will be key to containing the Indian opener.

Daryl Mitchell vs Axar Patel

Daryl Mitchell used his footwork to attack the bowlers in the previous match. Axar Patel will look to restrict him during the middle overs with accurate, stump-to-stump bowling.

Finn Allen vs Arshdeep Singh

Finn Allen attacked from the start in the series. Arshdeep Singh could use early swing and tight lines to limit the opener’s scoring options.

IND vs NZ Key Players to Watch

• New Zealand: Daryl Mitchell, Finn Allen and Bevon Jacobs

• India: Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Axar Patel