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IND vs NZ 4th T20I: Sanju Samson’s leave fixed? Ishan Kishan will open in Visakhapatnam, Shreyas Iyer may also return
Samira Vishwas | January 29, 2026 11:24 AM CST

News India Live, Digital Desk: The fourth match of the T20 series being played between the Indian cricket team and New Zealand is to be played today i.e. on Wednesday (January 28) at the Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium. At the crucial juncture of the series, murmurs of major changes in the Indian playing eleven have intensified. The poor form of the team’s star wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson has become a matter of concern for the captain and management, due to which he may have to sit out of the fourth T20. Sanju Samson’s ‘flop show’: Scored only 16 runs in three matches. Sanju Samson, who was considered India’s first choice in T20, has proved to be a complete failure in this series. Samson was out on a ‘golden duck’ (zero on the first ball) in the third T20 played in Guwahati. Matt Henry showed him the way to the pavilion. Earlier, in the first two matches also he had scored only 10 and 6 runs. After three consecutive failures, now the sword is hanging in his place. Ishan Kishan’s return is almost certain, he will open with Abhishek Sharma. It is almost certain that 27-year-old explosive batsman Ishan Kishan will get a chance in place of Samson. Ishaan is in great form; He scored the most runs in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025. In the second T20 against New Zealand also, he played a stormy innings of 76 runs in just 32 balls in Raipur. In the fourth T20, Ishan will not only handle the responsibility of wicket-keeping but can also open the innings with Abhishek Sharma. Tilak Verma’s absence and Shreyas Iyer’s chance. Team India’s young star Tilak Verma is not a part of the last two matches due to injury or personal reasons (non-availability). Shreyas Iyer, who was included in the squad in his place, may get a place in the playing eleven today. Iyer had scored more than 600 runs for Punjab Kings in IPL 2025. Interestingly, Iyer played his last T20 International against Australia in December 2023. Today, he may make a comeback in Visakhapatnam after two and a half years. Vice-captain Akshar Patel may enter. A relief news for the Indian team is that vice-captain and spin all-rounder Akshar Patel is fit and ready to return. Due to a finger injury suffered in the first match of the series, he was out of the second and third matches. In today’s important match, along with strengthening the spin department, he will also provide the option of batting in the lower order.


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