India playing XI vs New Zealand, 4th T20I, 2026- Gautam Gambhir to drop Sanju Samson?

India's probable XI Vs New Zealand [Source: AFP Photo]

After losing the ODIs against New Zealand, Team India has bounced back in style, beating the Kiwis in the first three T2OI matches and taking an unassailable 3-0 lead with two matches still to be played. The hosts have completely dominated the visitors and the fourth T20I in Vizag provides New Zealand a chance to salvage some pride.

India doesn’t have too many problems to deal with for the next T20I clash, but with the T20 World Cup set to begin in a few days' time, the management might want to make some changes for the fourth game, keeping in mind the workload management. Hence, here is how the team could lineup for the 4th T20I.

How India could lineup for the 4th T20I Vs New Zealand

Top order: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson? Ishan Kishan

One opener is already sorted as Abhishek Sharma is the undisputed starter of the Indian batting lineup, but what about Sanju Samson? The opener was given three matches to deliver the goods and on batting friendly wickets, Samson surrendered in front of the Kiwi bowlers.

(Sanju Samson vs New Zealand)

• In 3 matches so far, Samson has just scored 16 runs, and that too with a strike rate of 123. All three games have produced flat wickets, but Samson has failed to capitalise.
• India does have Shreyas Iyer to replace Samson in the playing XI, but with the World Cup just around the corner, India might want to instill confidence in Samson’s batting, and with the series already in the bag, the management might want the opener to get some runs under his belt before the event.
• With Ishan Kishan in red-hot form, and playing two crucial knocks in back-to-back games, he retains his place as India’s number 3 for the fourth T20I.

Middle order: Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya

• With Shreyas Iyer's inclusion ruled out, and Tilak Varma already out of the remaining two matches, there are not any options left to slot in the middle-order. Moreover, India's middle-order batters have done well in the series, with Suryakumar Yadav back in form, and Rinku Singh scoring a crucial 44 in the first T20I at Nagpur.
• In Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, India has two all-rounders who can score quick runs and can also take wickets at will. Hence, at least for the fourth T20I, India might not tinker with their batting lineup.

Bowlers: Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi

Bumrah rested, Kuldeep out

• India has managed Jasprit Bumrah’s workload carefully, and he has only played in two of the three T20Is so far. Bumrah remains India’s best bowler across formats, and the management wants him to be ready for the T20 World Cup. With the T20I series already in the bag against the Kiwis, the ace pacer might not play in the next two matches.
• Arshdeep Singh was rested for the last game, and he might come in to replace Bumrah for the fourth T20I.
• As far as Kuldeep Yadav is concerned, the wrist spinner has been going through a slump, and his performances have also dipped.

(Kuldeep in ongoing T20Is vs NZ)

• In the ongoing series, he has played two games and has only managed to pick up 2 wickets. Kuldeep’s average is on the higher side (33.50), and so is the economy rate (9.57).
• Hence, the management might drop him for the next T20I, with Varun Chakravarthy drafted into the lineup as the spinner has received a well-needed rest.
• Harshit Rana will be second pacer as India is likely to go in with two fast bowlers, two spinners, and two all-rounders.

India's probable XI for 4th T20I

Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh