Wellington: New Zealand won the toss and opted to field first against India in the fourth T20I of the five-match series here at the Westpac Stadium on Friday. Blackcaps skipper Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the game due to injury on the left shoulder. In his absence, Tim Southee will lead Kiwis.
Cricket pundits were expecting many changes in the playing XI of both sides as India have sealed the series by winning first three games.
India have brought in Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar and Navdeep Saini in place of Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohamad Shami.
Kohli: We would have bowled first as well. We haven't had a game like that in a while. For us as a side, it was a massive confidence booster. We have rested Rohit, Shami and Jadeja. Samson to open, Washington Sundar and Saini are in. Three exciting additions to the side.
Southee: Looks like a good wicket. Kane's got a niggle on his shoulder. He should be fine in a couple of days. We need to keep improving. Tom Bruce comes in for CdG and Daryl Mitchell comes in for Kane.
In the last match, Hitman Rohit Sharma hit a brilliant unbeaten 15 (including two sixes) in the Super Over as India chased down New Zealand's score of 17 to win the third T20I at Seddon Park.
Teams
India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson, Lokesh Rahul(w), Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini
New Zealand (Playing XI): Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Tom Bruce, Ross Taylor, Tim Seifert(w), Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee(c), Ish Sodhi, Hamish Bennett, Daryl Mitchell