Shreyas Iyer leads India against New Zealand in fourth ODI as Kishan steps up as deputy

India face New Zealand in the fourth ODI at Mount Maunganui on Thursday with Shreyas Iyer making his captaincy debut in the 50-over format. India lead the series 2-0 after three matches, though the previous fixture ended in a washout at Bay Oval which means New Zealand can only level the series now. Regular captain Shubman Gill and wicket-keeper KL Rahul have stepped away from 50-over duties to prepare for red-ball cricket. This shift opens up multiple slots in the team, with India expected to test out a new opening pair and middle-order options. Rohit Sharma looks to find his rhythm after two scratchy outings, while Ishan Kishan returns to the national setup to serve as Shreyas Iyer's vice-captain for the final two games of the tour. New Zealand trail in the series largely due to poor batting displays, even though their seam attack has nearly matched India's bowlers. The home batters continue to struggle with the seam and bounce on offer, leaving the team with work to do as the action moves to Bay Oval for the remaining fixtures.

Context

ODIs form a key part of international cricket schedules as teams constantly test new players and leadership options between major global tournaments. Venues like Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui regularly host international fixtures, offering sporting pitches that test visiting teams against sharp seam movement.