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The Indian cricket team made a strategic adjustment before their fourth T20I match against New Zealand which is played at Visakhapatnam. The team selected Arshdeep Singh for the playing XI while Ishan Kishan who plays as a batter remained absent from the lineup. The Indian team used this five-match series to test players who will compete in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 using players who belong to the World Cup team.

Many fans expected to see Ishan Kishan in the starting lineup because he has been performing at his best. After an absence of almost two years he returned to the T20 squad and then received selection as a backup wicketkeeper-batter for the World Cup team.

He made an immediate impact with his strong performance in the second T20I match where he achieved a fast half-century to showcase his ability to become a match-winning player in T20 cricket.

The captain of India Suryakumar Yadav revealed the reason for Ishan's exclusion from the lineup which resulted from a small injury. Surya reported that Ishan had a minor injury so the team chose to protect him before the World Cup tournament.

Also Read | Major Issues India Must Fix Before T20 World Cup 2026

India's playing XI only experienced one change which involved Ishan Kishan being replaced by Arshdeep Singh for the match. India had planned to use mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy for the match but he did not take the field. India wants to keep Varun's bowling style hidden from New Zealand until the World Cup because they do not wish New Zealand to see Varun's bowling style.

Axar Patel also did not play, but Suryakumar confirmed that Axar will be available for the final match. Some predicted that Hardik Pandya would rest after playing three consecutive matches yet he played in the lineup once more. India preferred to maintain team stability by preventing excessive alterations to the lineup.

India selected to bowl first after they won the toss. Suryakumar stated that heavy dew had developed on the field which made it easier for teams to bat during the second half of the game.

Many teams in India have successfully used this approach during their evening games. Bowlers struggle to maintain their grip on the ball because of dew conditions which results in batting teams achieving run-chases with greater success.