India have already wrapped up the five-match T20I series in New Zealand, but there is still plenty to play for at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30. Shreyas Iyer's side lead 3-0 and will look for a fourth straight win, while the fourth T20I also gives the team management a chance to try out players who have spent the tour on the bench.
The toss is at 12 pm IST and the first ball will be bowled at 12:30 pm IST. Nearly 40,000 fans are expected, which would beat the venue's bilateral attendance record of 36,523 set in 2019.
Series so far
All three games so far have been high-scoring. In the third T20I in Wellington, Abhishek Sharma smashed a 35-ball century, his fourth hundred in T20Is, as India piled up a record 118 runs in the powerplay and sealed the series with two matches to spare. The left-hander has been in remarkable form: since the start of 2025 he has piled up close to 2,000 T20I runs at a strike rate of around 200.
New Zealand have been hit by injuries. Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the series with a calf injury, and Matt Henry is also unavailable, leaving Mitchell Santner with a thin pace attack.
Match details
| Match | New Zealand vs India, 4th T20I |
| Date | Friday, October 30, 2026 |
| Venue | Eden Park, Auckland |
| Toss / Start | 12:00 pm IST / 12:30 pm IST |
| Series | India lead 3-0 (five-match series) |
| TV / Streaming | Sony Sports Network / SonyLIV |
| Head-to-head (T20Is) | 34 matches: India 22, NZ 11, 1 tie |
Team news: Kishan doubtful, Sooryavanshi in line
Ishan Kishan has missed two matches with an adductor strain, and it is still unclear whether he will be fit for Auckland. If he sits out again, teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could get another opportunity at the top of the order.
With the series in the bag, India may also rotate their bowlers. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy could come in if Axar Patel or Naman Dhir are rested. Prince Yadav has kept Mayank Yadav out of the side for the last two games, and the selectors may want a look at both. Bhuvneshwar Kumar had a tough outing in Wellington and the management may weigh up giving him a break.
Probable India XI
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav.
Probable New Zealand XI
Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Adam Milne, Blair Tickner.
India squad
Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma (vc), Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Naman Dhir, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Where to watch in India
Fans in India can watch the fourth T20I live on the Sony Sports Network channels on TV. Live streaming will be available on the SonyLIV app and website. With the match starting at 12:30 pm IST on a weekday afternoon, many fans are likely to follow it on mobile.
Key battles to watch
- Santner vs Samson: The New Zealand captain has dismissed Sanju Samson four times in seven innings.
- Axar and Kuldeep vs Phillips: Axar Patel has got Glenn Phillips out five times, and Kuldeep Yadav has removed him four times in five innings.
- Abhishek vs a weakened pace attack: Without Ferguson and Henry, New Zealand's quicks will have to find a way to stop India's in-form opener.
Pitch and conditions
Eden Park has short straight boundaries, and Santner has described it as an unforgiving venue for bowlers. Even so, the average first-innings score in T20Is here is around 156, so a disciplined bowling effort can still decide the game.
What it means for India
India have now won five straight T20Is against New Zealand and nine of their last ten T20Is in the country. A 4-0 scoreline would be another strong statement, but the bigger value of this match lies in giving game time to fringe players and checking the fitness of key names ahead of a busy home season. The fifth and final T20I follows after this game.
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