India will face New Zealand in the 4th T20I of the five-match series on January 28, 2026, at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. India has already sealed the series with a dominant 3-0 lead, making this the final T20I assignment before the T20 World Cup 2026.
India’s 11th consecutive T20I series win is now in the bag. The hosts have been ruthless in this series, chasing down targets with ease and showcasing their depth ahead of the home World Cup. New Zealand, missing several key players, will look to avoid a whitewash.
This article gives you a detailed Dream11 prediction, match details, head-to-head records, and key players for this T20I encounter.
India vs New Zealand Match Preview
Visakhapatnam will host the 4th T20I of the series. The match starts at 7:00 PM local time (7:00 PM IST).
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | India vs New Zealand, 4th T20I |
| Date | 28 January 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM Local / 7:00 PM IST / 1:30 PM GMT |
| Venue | Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam |
| Series | New Zealand tour of India 2025-26 |
| Series Status | India lead 3-0 (5-match series) |
India bowling coach Morne Morkel said, “Sanju is one knock away from that confidence, getting that form back. We all know the cliché that form is temporary. Building up to the World Cup, it’s important for the guys to find that peak performance at the right time.”
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Flat, firm surface – good for batting |
| Average T20I Score | 180+ expected |
| Favors | Batters in first innings, spinners in middle overs |
| Surface | Red soil, true bounce, good carry |
| Dew Factor | Heavy dew is expected in the second innings |
| Toss Factor | The team winning the toss is likely to bowl first |
The pitch at ACA-VDCA Stadium is a classic T20 surface – flat, firm, and tailor-made for aggressive strokeplay. The red-soil wicket produces true bounce, allowing batters to play through the line with confidence. Visakhapatnam’s coastal humidity can bring spinners into play during the middle overs. The last T20I here (November 2023) saw India chase down 209 against Australia in the final over. Heavy dew in the evening will make chasing easier.
Weather Report
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 24-26°C expected |
| Humidity | 69% |
| Wind Speed | Moderate |
| Rain Chance | No rain expected |
| Overall | Slightly cloudy, good conditions for cricket |
Clear conditions expected in Visakhapatnam. No rain interruption likely. The weather is ideal for a full T20I match with temperatures around 24-26°C.
Toss Prediction
The captain winning the toss will likely choose to bowl first. With heavy dew expected in the second innings, chasing becomes easier. The outfield quickens, and ball control becomes a challenge for bowlers under lights.
Injury Updates
India:
- Tilak Varma – OUT (testicular surgery) – will join the T20 World Cup squad on February 3
- Washington Sundar – OUT (side strain, lower rib area)
- Shreyas Iyer was the replacement for the first 3 T20Is only
- India may rotate Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi for Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy
New Zealand:
- Lockie Ferguson – returning from calf injury (sustained during ILT20), last played November 2024
- James Neesham – joined the squad for the 4th T20I
- Finn Allen – will join only for the 5th T20I in Thiruvananthapuram
- Tim Robinson and Kristian Clarke – released (not part of World Cup squad)
Dream11 Team For IND vs NZ
IND vs NZ Head-to-Head Records in T20Is
India and New Zealand have a competitive rivalry in T20 cricket.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total T20I Matches | 28 (including this series) |
| India Wins | 17 |
| New Zealand Wins | 10 |
| Tied/No Result | 1 |
| Last 5 T20Is | India leads 5-0 |
| India in Series | Won 3-0 (already sealed) |
India has won 5 of the 8 bilateral T20I series against New Zealand. This is India’s 11th consecutive T20I series (or tournament) win.
Last Five Matches
- India won by 8 wickets (with 60 balls remaining) 25-Jan-2026
- India won by 7 wickets (with 28 balls remaining) 23-Jan-2026
- India won by 48 runs, 21-Jan-2026
- India won by 168 runs 01-Feb-2023
- India won by 6 wickets (with 1 ball remaining) 29-Jan-2023
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Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Team | Role | Key Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | IND | Opener | 1011 T20I runs since Jan 2025 at avg 45.95, SR 202.20 – 8 fifties in 24 innings, slowest fifty off 25 balls |
| Suryakumar Yadav (c) | IND | Batter | 82*(37) in 2nd T20I, 57*(26) in 3rd T20I – 41 runs away from 3000 T20I runs |
| Ishan Kishan | IND | WK-Batter | 76(32) in 2nd T20I, 28(13) in 3rd T20I – playing first T20I since 2023 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | IND | Pace Bowler | 3/17 in 3rd T20I – match-winning spell |
| Glenn Phillips | NZ | Batter | 145 runs in series at avg 48.33 – top scorer for NZ |
| Mark Chapman | NZ | Batter | 1971 T20I runs – 29 away from 2000 T20I runs |
| Hardik Pandya | IND | All-rounder | Key finisher and pace option |
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