**Date:**January 28, 2026
Venue: ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
**Match:**4th T20I – India vs. New Zealand

The Men in Blue’s winning streak has finally been snapped. After dominating the first three games of the series, India stumbled in Visakhapatnam tonight as a spirited New Zealand side registered their first win of the tour, beating the hosts by a comprehensive 50 runs.

While the series is already in India's bag (leading 3-1), tonight’s match was a wake-up call that the Kiwis are far from done.

The Kiwi Resurgence: 215 on the Board

*The Foundation: Tim Seifert (62 off 36) and Devon Conway (44) dismantled the Indian powerplay bowling, stitching together a rapid 100-run partnership.
*The Finish: Just when Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav (2/29) and Ravi Bishnoi tried to pull things back, Daryl Mitchell unleashed carnage at the death. His unbeaten 39 off just 18 balls powered New Zealand to a massive 215/7.

The Chase: Top Order Collapse

Chasing 216 is never easy, but India’s start was disastrous.

• Abhishek Sharma fell for a golden duck in the very first over.
• Skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya followed quickly, leaving India reeling.
• New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner was the architect of this collapse, spinning a web around the Indian batters with a match-winning spell of 3/26.

The Lone Warrior: Shivam Dube

Just when the match looked like a complete washout, Shivam Dube ignited the stadium. Walking in with the team in deep trouble, Dube played a knock for the ages, smashing a blistering 65 off just 23 balls.

For a brief period, his clean hitting—raining sixes over long-on—gave Indian fans a glimmer of hope. However, a mix-up led to his run-out, and with his wicket, India’s hopes evaporated. The tail couldn't wag, and the hosts were bowled out for 165 in 18.4 overs.

What This Means for the Series

India still holds the series 3-1, but New Zealand has gained massive momentum heading into the final T20I in Thiruvananthapuram this Saturday.

Key Takeaway: India’s bench strength is incredible, but tonight showed that without a solid foundation from the top order, chasing 200+ is a tall order even for this lineup.

Next Match: 5th T20I | January 31, 2026 | Greenfield Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram.

Other points:

The Turning Point: A Costly Mix-Up

While wickets were tumbling, Shivam Dube looked immovable. He was batting on a different surface compared to his teammates, striking at a rate of over 280. The game hung in the balance in the 16th over, with India needing 60 off 24 balls—a tough but achievable equation in modern T20s.

However, a hesitation between Dube and Axar Patel resulted in a disastrous run-out at the non-striker's end. A direct hit from Glenn Phillips— arguably the best fielder in the world right now—caught Dube inches short. That single moment shifted the probability from 30% India to effectively 0%.

Tactical Masterclass: Santner’s Web

Mitchell Santner wasn’t just the pick of the bowlers; his captaincy was spot on. Unlike the Indian spinners who bowled slightly faster, Santner slowed his pace down to 75-80 km/ph, forcing the batters to generate all the power.

His decision to hold back Lockie Ferguson for the death overs also paid off. When India’s lower order tried to swing blindly, Ferguson’s raw pace (clocking 148 km/ph) cleaned up the tail, ensuring there were no last-minute heroics.

Stat of the Match

• 65 Runs: Shivam Dube’s score is now the highest by an Indian batter at No. 6 or lower in a T20 chase against New Zealand, surpassing the previous record held by MS Dhoni.
• Sixes: New Zealand hit a combined 12 sixes in their innings, compared to India’s 7, highlighting the gap in boundary-hitting power today.