New Zealand Predicted Playing XI vs India- 4th T20I, 2026

NZ predicted playing XI vs India for 4th T20I, 2026 [Source: AFP]

The New Zealand vs India T20I series will move to Auckland's Eden Park for the fourth match, after the visitors clinched the series with a 0-3 scoreline. Courtesy of Abhishek Sharma's scintillating century, India chased down 199 runs in just 13.2 overs to wrap the series up with two games remaining. 

The hosts will head into the match riddled with injuries and absences in the bowling department, so a few changes are expected to take place for the 4th T20I. Below is a brief look at the expected Blackcaps lineup for the game.

Top order and openers: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Daryl Mitchell

Swashbuckling opening pair, famously called the Bash Brothers, Finn Allen and Tim Seifert have not fired as expected in the series. 

Allen has gotten starts but has only managed 101 runs in 3 matches at a strike rate of 160.31, failing to put the team in a commanding position. On the other hand, wicketkeeper Tim Seifert has only scored 33 runs at a strike rate of 113.19.

Number 3 batter, Daryl Mitchell likes batting against India and also scored 89* off 52 with five fours and five sixes in the last match. He will stay at number 3 and look to stay in form ahead of the long-format series.

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Middle Order and Allrounders: Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith

The pair of Glenn Phillips and Devon Jacobs have been the two best Kiwi batters this series. Phillips has showcased sublime form in the first three games, scoring 169 runs at 174.22 and Jacobs is just behind him with 128 runs at a strike rate of 150.58.

Then the two senior allrounders, Michael Bracewell and Mitchell Santner, will handle the finishing role at 6 and 7. 

Neither of the two have faced enough balls in the series, combining for 21 runs in 13 balls. With the ball, Santner is the leading wicket-taker of the series, with 7 scalps, and Bracewell's off-spin has gotten two wickets.

Nathan Smith is likely to return to the playing XI and bat at number 8 as the fast-bowling allrounder. 

He previously picked 1 wicket in the series and has overall 83 T20 wickets to his name. With the bat, Smith has scored 572 runs at a strike rate of 130 with a fifty in the T20 Blast for Worcestershire.

Bowlers- Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher

The Blackcaps will miss the services of their main pacers for the upcoming T20Is. Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Lockie Ferguson will not be available. Adam Milne will likely be one of the lead pacers, having picked 66 T20I wickets in 56 innings at a decent economy rate of 8.48 runs per over and he can chip in with a few runs if needed.

Jacob Duffy will spearhead the pace attack despite a going at an economy of 22 in the last match. With 63 wickets in 48 innings, Duffy remains one of the strike bowlers for Santner. He will predominently bowl in the powerplay.

Matthew Fisher recently made his T20I debut in 2026 and has just played two T20Is so far. However, the bowler has been around the New Zealand A team and got 11 wickets in 5 matches of New Zealand A's recent Top End T20 Series in Australia. He picked 1/23 in the last T20I and is expected to come in for Ferguson. 

New Zealand's predicted playing XI vs India- 4th T20I, 2026

Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Bevon Jacobs, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (c), Nathan Smith, Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy, Matthew Fisher

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