MOUNT MAUNGANUI: India will take on New Zealand in the fourth ODI of the five-match series at Bay Oval on Friday, November 13, with stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer aiming to guide the visitors to a series-clinching victory.
India hold a 2-0 lead after winning the first two matches, while the third ODI in Hamilton was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain. With two matches remaining, New Zealand can no longer win the series outright but can still force a 2-2 draw by winning both games.
The fourth ODI is scheduled to begin at 7.30 am Indian Standard Time (IST), with the toss at 7 am. The match is set to be played at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
India look to seal the series
India began the series with a five-wicket victory in Auckland before securing a four-run win under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in Wellington.
The washout in Hamilton prevented New Zealand from reducing the deficit. India now need just one more victory to secure the five-match series.
The visitors will also look to make the most of the remaining matches to assess their combinations and give opportunities to players ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Shreyas Iyer takes charge
Shreyas Iyer will captain India in the final two ODIs after regular skipper Shubman Gill moved away from the squad for preparations ahead of the upcoming Test series.
Ishan Kishan has been named vice-captain, while KL Rahul and Anshul Kamboj are also unavailable as they join the Test preparations.
The leadership change creates an opportunity for Iyer to demonstrate his captaincy skills in the 50-over format. His decisions on batting combinations and bowling resources will be closely watched.
Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in focus
Senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be important to India’s plans in Mount Maunganui.
Rohit will be expected to provide a strong start, while Kohli’s experience and ability to build an innings could prove valuable in the middle overs.
Ishan Kishan is among the players expected to get an opportunity at the top of the order in Gill’s absence. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tilak Varma are also options for the revised batting combination.
The match offers the team management an opportunity to assess the available players in competitive conditions.
New Zealand seek a comeback
New Zealand will be under pressure to keep the series alive. The hosts need victories in both remaining matches to level the contest.
Mitchell Santner will lead the side, with Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Will Young and Michael Bracewell among the players expected to play important roles.
The hosts have also made changes to their squad for the final part of the ODI series, with several players joining preparations for the upcoming Test matches.
New Zealand will hope their bowling attack can exploit the conditions at Bay Oval and put India’s new-look batting order under pressure.
Weather and conditions at Bay Oval
Weather has been a major talking point throughout the series, with rain affecting the first three matches. The third ODI in Hamilton was abandoned without play.
However, the forecast for Mount Maunganui on Friday is more encouraging, with clear conditions expected according to the latest match-day updates. A full contest would be welcome for both teams after the repeated interruptions.
Bay Oval has also offered assistance to pace bowlers in recent matches. The teams will therefore need to assess the conditions before deciding on their bowling combinations and batting approach.
India vs New Zealand 4th ODI: Match details
- Match: India vs New Zealand, fourth ODI
- Date: Friday, November 13, 2026
- Venue: Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand
- Toss: 7 am IST
- Match start: 7.30 am IST
- Series position: India lead 2-0
India will enter the contest with the opportunity to secure the series, while New Zealand will be determined to keep their hopes of a draw alive. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in action and Iyer leading the side, the fourth ODI promises an important test for both teams.