India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl against New Zealand in the fourth T20 International of the five-match series at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium on Wednesday. With the hosts already sealing the series by winning the first three matches, the focus shifted to team combinations and player fitness ahead of the final game.

India made a notable change to their playing XI, with Ishan Kishan missing out due to a niggle. Explaining the decision at the toss, Suryakumar said the left-handed batter was not fully fit, prompting the team management to rest him as a precautionary measure. In his place, fast bowler Arshdeep Singh was brought into the side to strengthen the bowling attack.

All-rounder Axar Patel also remained on the bench as he continues to recover from a finger injury sustained during the second T20I of the series. Suryakumar indicated that Axar is progressing well and could return to action in the fifth and final match, depending on his fitness assessment.

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New Zealand, meanwhile, will be looking to avoid a series whitewash and regain momentum after three consecutive defeats. The visitors have struggled to contain India’s aggressive batting and disciplined bowling across the series, making the fourth T20I an opportunity to test their bench strength and combinations ahead of upcoming assignments.

The decision to bowl first was influenced by pitch conditions in Visakhapatnam, where evening dew is expected to play a role. India’s bowlers have been effective in exploiting early movement, while the batting unit has shown depth and flexibility throughout the series.

With the series outcome already decided, the fourth T20I offers both teams a chance to experiment and manage workloads. For India, the focus remains on maintaining winning momentum and ensuring key players are fit, while New Zealand will aim for a strong performance to finish the tour on a positive note.

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