Despite having already sealed the series 3-1, India were in experimental mode in the fourth T20I at Visakhapatnam. The team opted to play five specialist bowlers, keeping all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube out of the bowling plans.
Guwahati has been confirmed as one of the venues for the India–New Zealand white-ball series early next year, and will host a T20I as part of the eight-match limited-overs series.
Twelve years of waiting, a campaign built on resilience, and one final hurdle against a team that has so often been India’s Achilles' heel—the New Zealand challenge. The stakes couldn’t be higher as Rohit Sharma’s men step onto the field at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, seeking to reclaim the ICC Champions Trophy and rewrite history.
Already in Champions Trophy SF, India, NZ face off in final Group stage contest
New Zealand, meanwhile, regained the fourth spot they lost to South Africa after the Proteas whitewashed Bangladesh earlier this week.
The day witnessed 453 runs being scored, making it the second-highest number of runs scored in a day’s play in Test cricket in India. Along with that, 10 wickets also fell on Friday.
Persistent rains ensured that no play was possible on the opening day of the first Test between India and New Zealand at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here. Play was called off around 2:30 pm on Wednesday.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, there are forecasts of rains for the rest of the week, which could seriously impact the Test. There is a 70 to 90 per cent chance of rain on the first and second days of the Test, and a yellow alert has also been issued for many places in the state of Karnataka (of which Bengaluru is a part).
The Kiwis are unlikely to be without former captain Kane Williamson for at least the first Test of the three-match ICC World Test Championship series and the loss of Sears further depletes their playing stocks ahead of the first Test that commences here on Wednesday.
With the loss, India finished third in Asia/Oceania Group I with three wins and two defeats.
