Team India to make changes for the fourth T20I, Will Ishan Kishan play?

New Delhi: After winning the series, the Indian team may now give a chance to Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy in the fourth T20 match against New Zealand in Auckland on Friday. Both spinners have not got many opportunities in the last few months because the team management has been emphasizing the strategy of selecting batsmen till number eight. So far, this strategy has been effective, due to which India won all three matches. 

Now that there is less pressure in the next two matches, India can experiment with its team combination. Varun's form has not been good in the last six months, but Kuldeep has taken wickets in the middle overs. He got a chance in two matches in the home series against West Indies, but remained on the bench in the first three matches against New Zealand.

India needs to overcome this mindset

Kuldeep's continued absence could impact his confidence, but bringing him back into the team will require overcoming the mindset of batting lower down the order. In the third T20, two spin all-rounders, Axar Patel and Naman Dheer, didn't even get a chance to bowl. Axar, who has bowled at an economy rate of 7.70 in 115 matches so far, has conceded runs at a rate of 9.58 runs per over in the series and has taken only two wickets. In the fast bowling department, Bhuvneshwar Kumar performed well in the death overs in the last match in Wellington, consistently bowling yorkers in the final overs.

However, in the first three matches, he conceded 139 runs in 72 balls, proving quite expensive. Bhuvneshwar, who has been playing international cricket for the last four years , will have to improve. Prince Yadav was fielded in place of Mayank Yadav in the last two matches. It remains to be seen whether Mayank gets a chance or the team relies on Prince, who has been effective so far.

Will Ishan Kishan play in the fourth T20I?

Ishan Kishan missed the last two matches due to a groin injury. If he's unable to play tomorrow, Vaibhav Suryavanshi could get another chance. He performed well in Wellington, but Abhishek Sharma's innings stole the spotlight. New Zealand's biggest challenge will be containing the Indian top order. Sanju Samson, Abhishek, and Suryavanshi have troubled the New Zealand bowlers with sporadic performances.

Captain Mitchell Santner impressed with his left-arm spin, but lacked support from the other end. India had scored a record 118 runs in the first six overs in Wellington. Following Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson's injury also ruled out the series, dealing another blow to the New Zealand team. The match will begin at 12:30 PM IST.

India: Shreyas Iyer (captain), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Naman Dheer, Tilak Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Prince Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Yadav, Kumar Kushagra, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav.

New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Bevan Jacobs, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Devon Conway, Mitchell Santner (c), Michael Bracewell, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Matt Fisher, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Adam Milne, Josh Clarkson.