India, led by Shreyas Iyer, made two changes to their playing XI for the fourth T20I against New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday, October 30. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi were dropped from the side for the fourth match of the ongoing series.
Team India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl, extending his run to four consecutive toss wins on the tour. The Men in Blue have already taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series after beating New Zealand by six wickets in the third T20I in Wellington.
India Drop Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Shreyas Iyer stated that Ishan Kishan would replace Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, while Mayank Yadav would come in for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Kishan missed the previous two matches due to a low-grade right adductor strain.
"We're going to bowl. Just following the same pattern. The intent, the positivity was there from ball one. The execution was phenomenal. The wind is following us everywhere, it's getting chillier. It's important to be ruthless. The boys have been given the same message. Everyone is in high spirits. Expecting bounce and seam movement. Ishan Kishan comes in for Vaibhav and Mayank comes in for Bhuvi."
India's playing XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav and Mayank Yadav.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Dropped Despite Impressive 45-Run Knock
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dropped from the squad for Ishan Kishan despite scoring 45 off just 19 balls in the third T20I. The teenager also shared a 133-run opening partnership with Abhishek Sharma in just 7.1 overs as India chased down New Zealand's target in Wellington.
Matthew Fisher dismissed Sooryavanshi with his first delivery in T20I cricket. The length ball around leg stump prompted the left-hander to make room and target the long-on boundary. However, he toe-ended the lofted shot. Daryl Mitchell ran in from long-on and completed a catch to his right.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had also struggled in the second T20I in Christchurch, scoring four off eight deliveries. The left-handed batter also played at the No. 3 position in the absence of Kishan.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar's Performance in First Three T20Is
Bhuvneshwar Kumar endured a difficult return to international cricket in the first T20I against New Zealand in Christchurch. The right-arm pacer conceded 49 runs without taking a wicket in his four overs. He gave away 21 runs across his second and third overs before conceding another 14 in the final over.
The 36-year-old managed to pick up his only wicket of the series so far in the second T20I. He dismissed Daryl Mitchell for six but conceded 50 runs in four overs at an economy rate of 12.50. Mitchell was caught by Tilak Varma at cover-point after mistiming a knuckleball.
Bhuvneshwar's struggles continued in the third T20I in Wellington, where he also conceded 40 runs without taking a wicket in four overs. He finished the first three matches with just one wicket for 139 runs at an economy rate of 11.58.
Also read: Prasidh Krishna injury update: India Pacer ruled out of New Zealand ODI series
