India vs New Zealand 4th T20I Prediction: Confirmed Team News & Vizag Pitch Report

India vs New Zealand 4th T20I Prediction: Confirmed Team News & Vizag Pitch Report and Playing XI changes. Who will win in Visakhapatnam.

Playing XI

With the series already in the bag, India heads to the coastal city of Visakhapatnam for the 4th T20I against New Zealand on Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The Men in Blue have been dominant so far, taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. However, with the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 just weeks away (starting February 7), this “dead rubber” is anything but meaningless. It presents a final opportunity for the Indian management to test their bench strength and finalize the puzzle pieces for the global tournament.

For New Zealand, the tour has been challenging. After showing promise in the ODIs, they have been outplayed in the shortest format. Captain Mitchell Santner will be desperate to rally his troops and avoid a potential whitewash, aiming to regain some momentum before the World Cup campaign begins.

Match Details

• Match: India vs New Zealand, 4th T20I

• Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026

• Time: 7:00 PM IST (Toss at 6:30 PM)

• Venue: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam

• Live Streaming: Sports18 Network & JioCinema/JioStar App

Team News: Big Changes Expected for India?

India (The Experimentation Phase): Having sealed the series with a comfortable 8-wicket victory in Guwahati, Head Coach Gautam Gambhir and Captain Suryakumar Yadav are expected to ring in changes. The primary focus will be on workload management for key players ahead of the World Cup.

• Rest for Hardik & Bumrah? Vice-captain Hardik Pandya and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah have played high-intensity cricket recently. To keep them fresh, the management might rest them for the remaining two games.

• Opportunity for the Bench: This could open the door for Harshit Rana or Avesh Khan to step into the pace attack.

• Wicketkeeping Options: While Ishan Kishan has solidified his spot at No. 3, India might give Jitesh Sharma a game to keep him match-ready as a backup finisher/keeper.

• Top Order: The opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson is likely to continue, though there is outside chatter about giving a chance to reserves if the management decides to shuffle the batting order completely.

New Zealand (Playing for Pride): The Black Caps are searching for answers. Their batting has struggled against India’s spin web, particularly Varun Chakaravarthy and Axar Patel.

• Batting Shuffle: We might see Will Young or Tim Seifert (if available in the squad reserves) getting a look-in to bolster a fragile middle order.

• Bowling Tweak: Lockie Ferguson’s pace has been expensive; the Kiwis might consider bringing in Adam Milne or adding an extra spinner in Ish Sodhi to exploit the Vizag surface.

Vizag Pitch Report: Batting Paradise or Spin Trap?

The Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium is historically known for being a batter-friendly venue. The surface is usually hard and true, allowing for good stroke play early in the innings. However, the venue has a reputation for slowing down as the game progresses.

• Spin Factor: Unlike the red-soil bounce of Wankhede, Vizag often assists spinners in the middle overs. If India plays three spinners, New Zealand could be in for a tough time.

• Dew Factor: Being a coastal city, humidity will be high, and dew is almost guaranteed in the second innings. This makes chasing the preferred option. The captain winning the toss will likely choose to bowl first to avoid bowling with a wet ball later in the night.

• Par Score: The average first-innings score here in T20Is is around 170-180. Anything above 190 will be a match-winning total.

Match Prediction: Who Will Win?

India is the clear favorite. Even with potential changes to the Playing XI, India’s depth is frighteningly good. Players like Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube have been in sublime form, and the spinners are out-bowling their Kiwi counterparts. New Zealand’s only chance lies in their top order (Finn Allen and Devon Conway) firing collectively to put up a massive total (200+) that puts pressure on India’s chasers.

However, considering the current form and home advantage: Prediction: India to win the match and take a 4-0 lead.

Fantasy Cricket Tips (Dream11/My11Circle)

• Captain: Suryakumar Yadav (Due for a big score)

• Vice-Captain: Axar Patel (All-round value)

• Must-Haves: Ishan Kishan, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner, Rinku Singh.

1. Suryakumar Yadav vs Mitchell Santner (The Captain’s Dual) India’s captain “SKY” has been in decent touch, but he has historically found left-arm orthodox spin tricky early in his innings. Mitchell Santner knows this well. If Santner brings himself on in the powerplay or immediately after, he will look to cramp SKY for room. However, if SKY survives the first six balls, expect him to use the sweep shot to destroy Santner’s figures.

2. Finn Allen vs Arshdeep Singh (Pace vs Power) Finn Allen is crucial for New Zealand’s explosive starts, but he has struggled against swing. Arshdeep Singh, with his ability to bring the ball back into the right-hander, will be lethal with the new ball. If Arshdeep gets his line right in the first over, Allen’s stay at the crease could be short.

3. Rinku Singh vs Lockie Ferguson (The Death Over Drama) If India bats first, the final 4 overs will likely see “The Finisher” Rinku Singh up against the raw pace of Lockie Ferguson. Rinku thrives on pace, often using the bowler’s speed to guide the ball behind square. Ferguson will need to execute his yorkers perfectly; miss by an inch, and Rinku will deposit it into the Vizag stands.

Head-to-Head Records: India’s Dominance

India has turned into a nightmare for the Black Caps in home conditions. The recent form guide paints a clear picture of the disparity between the two sides in this series.

India vs New Zealand T20I Head-to-Head (Overall):

• Total Matches Played: 31

• India Won: 18

• New Zealand Won: 11

• Tied/No Result: 2

Recent Form Guide (Last 5 Matches):

• India: W W W W L

• New Zealand: L L L W L

Current Series Status (2026):

• 1st T20I (Nagpur): India won by 48 runs.

• 2nd T20I (Raipur): India won by 7 wickets.

• 3rd T20I (Guwahati): India won by 8 wickets (Series sealed 3-0).

• 4th T20I (Visakhapatnam): Scheduled for Jan 28.

Stat Alert: India has not lost a bilateral T20I series at home since 2019. New Zealand will need a miracle to break this fortress.

Weather Forecast: Will Rain Play Spoilsport?

Good news for cricket fans in Visakhapatnam! The weather forecast for Wednesday evening is promising, though typically humid.

• Temperature: Expect a pleasant evening with temperatures ranging between 24°C to 27°C during match hours.

• Rain Probability: There is a very low chance of rain (<5%), so we should get a full 40-over contest.

• Humidity: The biggest factor will be humidity, expected to be around 75-80%. This confirms that dew will play a massive role in the second innings, making the toss crucial. Bowlers will struggle to grip the wet ball after 8:30 PM.

Live Streaming & Telecast Details

Don’t miss a single ball of the action. Here is where you can watch the match live:

• TV Channels (India): Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi, and Star Sports Select 1 (HD & SD).

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar / JioCinema App (Free for mobile users).

• Time: Coverage starts at 6:00 PM IST; Match starts at 7:00 PM IST.

Conclusion: Can NZ Salvage Pride?

With the series already decided, the pressure is arguably off for India, which often makes them even more dangerous. For New Zealand, this is about survival and preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Unless their top order fires and their bowlers find a way to stop the onslaught of Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav, a 4-0 scoreline looks inevitable.

Final Prediction: India to win comfortably, likely chasing down a target.

FAQs for India vs New Zealand 4th T20I Prediction: Confirmed Team News & Vizag Pitch Report

Q1: Is Hardik Pandya playing in the 4th T20I? A: Reports suggest Hardik Pandya might be rested to manage his workload. Harshit Rana is the likely replacement.

Q2: What is the pitch report for Vizag? A: The Vizag pitch is generally batting-friendly but assists spinners in the middle overs. Due to heavy dew, teams prefer chasing here.

Q3: Where can I watch IND vs NZ live on mobile? A: You can stream the match live for free on the JioHotstar or JioCinema app.

Q4: Who is the captain of India for this series? A: Suryakumar Yadav is leading the Indian T20 side.

Q5: Has India won the T20 series vs New Zealand 2026? A: Yes, India has already won the series by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead.