Shreyas Iyer has a day to forget as India slip to their 2nd biggest T20I defeat

Brief Score, 4th T20I: New Zealand (259 for 7 in 20 overs) beat India (172 for 9 in 20 overs) by 87 runs at Eden Park, Auckland. Scorecard | Highlighting

Days after sealing an elusive 3-0 lead in the five-match series, India put up a disappointing performance against New Zealand in the fourth T20I in Auckland on Friday. After conceding 259, the highest total they have ever allowed in a T20I, India were restricted to 172 for 9 in their 20 overs. The 87-run defeat was India’s second biggest loss in T20I cricket, coming three months after they beat England by 125 runs in Nottingham in July.

Glenn Phillips was the star of the show as the New Zealand all-rounder continued his brilliant run in the series as he smashed a 49-ball 107 at Eden Park to help the hosts post their highest ever T20I total. It was a much-needed win for New Zealand, who were staring at a series whitewash after losing their first three matches.

Meanwhile, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer has come under scrutiny. On a day when he needed to step up with the bat after early departures from the top order, including last-match centurion Abhishek Sharma, Iyer managed just 22 off 11 deliveries before being bowled by Adam Milne in a power over. The modest contribution extended his half-century wait in T20Is to eight innings.

BEST SHOW IN INDIA CANCELED

Sanju Samson dropped for 4 in the first over of the chase (AP Photo)

Chasing a mammoth 260, India needed a strong start. Instead, they suffered a nightmare start as Sanju Samson returned to open the batting after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left outhe was dismissed off the second ball of the innings. A fit-again Ishan Kishan, who came into the playing XI in place of Sooryavanshi, fell as Jacob Duffy gave New Zealand a dream start with two wickets in the opening session.

Abhishek tried to put the pressure back on the Black Caps during the over, but fell for 27 off 15 deliveries after Matthew Fisher edged the left-handed opener. With Iyer also gone in the over, India were left at 56 for 4.

Nitish Kumar Reddy and Axar Patel, who was promoted ahead of Tilak Varma, attempted a rebuild and added 30 runs for the fifth wicket. However, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner dealt India a double blow in the ninth over as he dismissed both batsmen as the visitors struggled to 89 for 6.

India needed something extraordinary from the lower middle order, but neither Naman Dhir nor vice-captain Tilak Varma could produce the innings needed to revive the chase. Tilak top-scored with 35, but the required rate was long out of India’s reach. The visitors batted their full quota of 20 overs, finishing on 172 for 9 and suffering a punishing defeat.

PHILLIPS DECIMATES THE INDIAN ATTACK

The The total of 259 runs was the third time India had conceded more than 250 in this year’s T20I. Until 2026, India had never allowed the opposition to score 250 or more in the format. But they have now conceded three such totals in the last four months under Iyer’s captaincy, with England posting 257 for 3 in Southampton and West Indies posting 252 for 4 in Ranchi earlier this month.

Having wrapped up the series with a 3-0 lead, India won the toss for the fourth consecutive time and opted to bowl. The decision initially looked to be paying off as Mayank Yadav struck in the first over, dismissing Tim Seifert before removing Daryl Mitchell in the second. However, Mitchell had already hit 24 off nine balls.

Finn Allen continued the onslaught, scoring 31 off 17 deliveries before Axar Patel dismissed him in the eighth over. At the other end, Phillips ensured New Zealand maintained their momentum and took advantage of the short boundaries at Eden Park. The visitors reached 67 for 2 in the over and were 113 for 4 at the end of the 11th over, with Bevon Jacobs also falling to Mayank for seven.

Just when India seemed to have pulled things back, Phillips and Michael Bracewell launched a breathtaking counter-attack. The pair added 115 runs for the fifth wicket in just 40 deliveries, completely shifting the momentum in New Zealand’s favour.

Phillips brings up his 3rd T20I ton in authoritative style Watch #NZvsIND 4th T20I LIVE on #SonyLIV and #SonySportsNetwork Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) October 30, 2026

The onslaught began with part-time off-spinner Naman Dhir conceding 16 runs in the 12th over. Things got significantly worse when Nitish Kumar Reddy scored 32 in the 16th over. Phillips went after the SunRisers Hyderabad all-rounder and smashed him for four consecutive sixes in a brutal display of power hitting.

Bracewell joined the carnage and picked up both spin and pace as he raced to a half-century from just 19 deliveries. The left-hander eventually finished with 65 off 25 balls, including four boundaries and six sixes, before Prince Yadav ended the innings with a yorker. Phillips, meanwhile, got his third T20I hundred off 46 deliveries before falling to 107 off 49 balls. His innings included six fours and 10 sixes.

India managed to pull things back in the last three overs, conceding only 33 runs during that time. However, the damage has already been done. New Zealand plundered 146 runs in the last nine overs, finishing with 259 for 7.

ARSHDEEP THE LONE BRIGHT SPOT

Arshdeep Singh was the only Indian bowler who managed to keep the New Zealand batsmen relatively quiet. He conceded less than 10 runs in the over and took the wicket of captain Mitchell Santner. The dismissal took Arshdeep to 150 T20I wickets, making him the first Indian bowler and the ninth overall to reach the milestone.

Arshdeep also set a new record for most wickets taken by a bowler from a full member state in a calendar year in T20Is, surpassing Ireland’s Josh Little who took 39 wickets in 2022.

Mayank, meanwhile, finished with three wickets for 48 runs and offered India some encouragement with his pace and ability to strike in the power bowl. However, Nitish Kumar Reddy endured a tough outing and conceded 64 runs in his four overs.

With the series now secured, India will look to put the heavy defeat behind them when the two sides meet in the fifth and final T20I on Sunday in Hamilton. But the bowling performance coupled with Iyer’s continued struggles with the bat will give the team management a lot to think about.

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