India vs New Zealand 4th T20I Match Analysis: Seifert, Santner Star as New Zealand Beat India by 50 Runs
New Zealand produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat India by 50 runs in the 4th T20I of the New Zealand tour of India 2026, played at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, on January 28. A blistering batting display led by Tim Seifert, followed by a disciplined bowling effort spearheaded by Mitchell Santner, sealed a convincing victory for the visitors.
India vs New Zealand 4th T20I – Match Summary
- Match: India vs New Zealand, 4th T20I
- Date: January 28, 2026
- Venue: Visakhapatnam
- Result: New Zealand won by 50 runs
- New Zealand: 215/7 (20 overs)
- India: 165 all out (18.4 overs)
- Player of the Match: Tim Seifert (NZ)
Despite the loss, India still lead the five-match T20I series 3–1.
Tim Seifert Sets the Tone as New Zealand Post 215/7
After India elected to field first, New Zealand’s openers came out firing, taking full advantage of a flat pitch and fast outfield. The opening partnership between Devon Conway and Tim Seifert laid the foundation for a massive total.
Powerplay Domination
New Zealand raced to 71 runs without loss in the powerplay:
- Conway: 44 off 23
- Seifert: aggressive from ball one
Seifert reached his fifty in just 25 balls, mixing clean hitting with smart placement.
Middle Overs Acceleration
Even after wickets fell, New Zealand never lost momentum:
- Tim Seifert: 62 off 36 balls
- Glenn Phillips: 24 off 16
- Daryl Mitchell: unbeaten 39 off 18
Late cameos from Zak Foulkes (13 off 6) and Mitchell Santner (11 off 6) ensured New Zealand crossed the 200-run mark comfortably, finishing at 215/7.
India Bowling Struggles
India’s bowlers struggled to contain the scoring:
- Harshit Rana: 54 runs in 4 overs
- Ravi Bishnoi: 49 runs in 4 overs
Kuldeep Yadav (2/39) and Arshdeep Singh (2/33) were the pick of the bowlers, but the lack of control at the death proved costly.
India’s Chase Falters Despite Shivam Dube’s Heroics
Chasing a daunting 216, India suffered an immediate setback when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a first-ball duck. The pressure continued as captain Suryakumar Yadav fell cheaply, leaving India at 9/2.
Middle-Order Resistance
- Sanju Samson: 24 off 15
- Rinku Singh: 39 off 30
While partnerships were built, the required run rate kept climbing.
Shivam Dube’s Explosive Knock
The highlight of India’s innings was a breathtaking knock from Shivam Dube, who smashed:
- 65 off just 23 balls
- 7 sixes, strike rate 282.60
Dube briefly reignited hope, bringing India past 150, but his run-out in the 15th over ended any realistic chance of a comeback.
Mitchell Santner Leads New Zealand’s Bowling Charge
New Zealand’s bowlers were clinical under pressure, with skipper Mitchell Santner delivering a match-winning spell:
- 3/26 in 4 overs
- Removed key batters including Samson, Pandya, and Bumrah
Support came from:
- Jacob Duffy: 2 wickets
- Ish Sodhi: 2 wickets
India were bowled out for 165 in 18.4 overs, falling 50 runs short of the target.
Key Turning Points of the Match
- New Zealand’s 71-run powerplay without loss
- Tim Seifert’s rapid fifty setting the platform
- Early wickets in India’s chase
- Dube’s dismissal halting India’s momentum
- Santner’s economical and incisive spell
What This Result Means for the Series
Although New Zealand secured a morale-boosting win, India still lead the five-match T20I series 3–1. The result keeps the series alive heading into the final match, while also exposing India’s bowling concerns on high-scoring surfaces.
Final Verdict
The India vs New Zealand 4th T20I showcased New Zealand at their aggressive best. Tim Seifert’s fearless batting and Mitchell Santner’s tactical brilliance outplayed India in all departments. For India, Shivam Dube’s knock was a rare bright spot on an otherwise disappointing night in Visakhapatnam.
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