IND vs NZ: Predicted India playing XI for the fourth ODI against New Zealand

The fourth one-day international game between India and New Zealand is set to take place at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on November 13. The visitors, India, are currently leading the series 2-0 after winning the first 2 games; however, the 3rd ODI has been called off due to excessive rain. Team India is now aiming to seal the series, while the Kiwi side wants to make a comeback. The Blackcaps have already lost the T20I series earlier, and after losing in the first two ODIs, they have also lost the chance to win the ODI series as well. Given this series, they will aim to draw the series by winning the final 2 matches. 

With Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Anshul Kamboj leaving early to join the Test setup, starting on November 19, Shreyas Iyer takes over the captaincy. Tilak Varma, Kumar Kushagra, and Yash Thakur replace them in the squad for the final two ODIs. 

Reports indicate that Ruturaj Gaikwad is set to open the batting alongside senior opener Rohit Sharma in place of the absent captain Shubman Gill, while Ishan Kishan will step into the playing XI as wicketkeeper-batter instead of KL Rahul. Additionally, Mohammed Siraj is expected to come into the lineup for Anshul Kamboj, with the rest of the playing XI being the same. 

Depending on the preferred combination, the team management could also hand Tilak Varma an opportunity further down the order at number 5 or 6, while exploring tactical versatility by potentially deploying Ishan Kishan as an opener and shifting Ruturaj Gaikwad into the middle-order. It would be very fascinating to watch whether management will include Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI or once again he sits on the bench. Team India is currently playing with 2 spin-bowling all-rounders, and Kuldeep Yadav didn’t get an opportunity in the playing XI throughout this tour. After Anshul’s departure, Kuldeep Yadav might get his first game of the tour. 

Arshdeep Singh will lead the pace attack alongside Auqib Nabi and Gurnoor Brar. Under Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, Team India had earlier won the T20I series, and he now wants to seal the ODI series as well. 

Predicted India playing XI for the fourth ODI 

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer ©, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Naman Dhir, Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav/Mohammed Siraj, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh