Suryakumar Yadav on Team India's strategy (Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x.com)
Team India’s sheer domination came to a halt in the last match after New Zealand defeated them by 50 runs in the fourth T20I. Chasing 216, India’s star-studded batting order collapsed dramatically, turning dominance into a night to forget.
After Team India’s strategy in the fourth T20I created buzz, captain Suryakumar Yadav stepped in to clear the air. Reflecting on this issue, he revealed the thinking behind the strategy and the key moments that ultimately shaped the game’s outcome.
Suryakumar Yadav lifts the lid on India’s tactical calls
After three consecutive victories against New Zealand, Team India already secured the ongoing T20I series, but the fourth match ended with disappointment for them. While chasing a big total of 216 runs, the Men in Blue ended their innings in just 165 runs and faced a heartbreaking 50-run defeat.
In the last game, Team India’s tactical calls grabbed attention. With six batters, Team India played with five bowlers in the match. With the move sparking widespread debate, captain Suryakumar Yadav stepped forward to explain the real thinking behind the strategy.
“[thoughts on the game] We purposely played 6 batters today. Wanted to challenge ourselves. We wanted to see how does it look chasing a big total and lose 2-3 wickets,” he said.
Just after the ongoing series, Team India will be heading for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, where tougher challenges await on the global stage. Ahead of the marquee event, captain Suryakumar Yadav revealed that the plan is to give every World Cup squad member a run before the big tournament.
“We wanted to play everyone who is part of the World Cup squad. We wanted the guys to take the responsibility. We might chase again in the next game,” he added.
Suryakumar Yadav opens up on India’s missing links
Chasing down the total, Team India’s batting order had that one odd day at work. As Sanju Samson opened the innings with Abhishek Sharma, the young Indian opener walked away on a duck. But even standing on that point, Rinku Singh and Shuvam Dube’s knocks sparked hope.
After Rinku walked away scoring 39 runs, Dube played an electrifying knock of 65 runs in only 23 balls. Reflecting on the defeat, captain Suryakumar Yadav pointed out the missing links that ultimately proved decisive in the game’s final outcome.
“With the heavy dew, one or two partnerships here and there would have made a lot of difference. We lost by 50 runs, but it's okay. If someone hung around Dube, it would have made some difference,” he said.
A painful wake-up call for India before the T20 World Cup 2026
Just before the T20 World Cup 2026, Team India was having a dream run until they faced the Kiwis in the 4th T20I match of the ongoing T20I series. After opting to bowl first, the Indian attack came under heavy fire as openers Tim Seifert and Devon Conway put on a commanding 100-run stand, pushing India firmly onto the back foot.
Even though Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav secured two scalps each, the Kiwis challenged the home side with 215 runs on the board. In reply, India’s chase unraveled quickly, and apart from Sanju Samson’s 24 off 15 along with fiery knocks from Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube, the batting unit failed to fire, ending in a crushing 50-run defeat.
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