New Zealand claimed a dominant 87-run victory over India in the 4th T20I at Eden Park in Auckland on October 30, with the hosts posting 259 for 7 in their innings. India managed 172 for 9, with Jacob Duffy picking up a four-for. The loss came after India had won the opening three T20Is of the tour, leaving the series now at 3-1 in favour of the Men in Blue.
Glenn Phillips delivered an exceptional knock of 107 off 49 deliveries to anchor New Zealand's innings. Daryl Mitchell took 20 runs off the first four deliveries in the third over of India's bowling attack, setting the tone for a commanding batting display. India's bowling attack struggled in the powerplay phase. Mayank Yadav took 3 wickets for 48 runs, while Arshdeep Singh conceded 38 runs across 4 overs. Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel and Naman Dhir combined to concede 123 runs in 8 overs, contributing to a heavy total India could not chase. Tilak Varma scored a run-a-ball 35 for India in a losing effort.
After the match, Shreyas Iyer acknowledged the challenge Eden Park's dimensions posed for his team. The India captain explained that several players were experiencing such ground sizes for the first time and required time to adjust to the conditions.
"The conversation was just that, we knew the dimensions were going to be like this, and for some of them, it was their first time playing at such grounds. So it takes them a bit of time to adapt to the challenge," Iyer said.
Iyer reflected on India's strong performance in the first three matches despite the setback at Eden Park. He stressed that the defeat represented a valuable learning opportunity for the squad as they prepared for the fifth T20I in Hamilton.
'It's not that easy, I understand that, but the way they executed the first three games, it was magnificent, and yeah, this is just a learning curve, I feel, that next time when they come here, they would probably have a better idea of how to go about their business. So, a great learning curve, and hopefully we come back positive in the next game," Iyer added.
Iyer praised Glenn Phillips for his exceptional batting display while acknowledging India's bowling shortcomings. The India captain recognised that Phillips' 107 off 49 deliveries was a standout performance that had proven difficult to contain.
"We fell a bit short in our bowling to start with. Powerplay, especially in the third over, they got that momentum from there on. A couple of bowlers tried to squeeze in, but it was an exceptional knock by Glenn. Some phenomenal shots, which were like pure bliss. So kudos to him. He's been consistent throughout the series, so a lot to learn from him," Iyer said.
What lies ahead for India in Hamilton?
Iyer stressed the importance of analysing the defeat and preparing for a strong response in the final match, which will be played in Hamilton on Sunday, November 1.
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"I feel that it's important to introspect, see where we can actually bounce back, going to Hamilton with just a day off. So I personally feel that we can probably go back to the drawing board and see to it that we analyse and try to execute to the best of our abilities in the next game," he explained.
