India vs New Zealand 4th T20I: Shivam Dube’s Historic 15-Ball Fifty Fails to Save India as Kiwis Clinch 50-Run Victory

Visakhapatnam, January 28, 2026 —India vs New Zealand 4th T20I: Shivam Dube’s Historic 15-Ball Fifty Fails to Save India as Kiwis Clinch 50-Run Victory . In a high-octane encounter at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, New Zealand finally found their rhythm to register their first win of the five-match series. Despite a record-shattering performance from Shivam Dube, who smashed the third-fastest T20I fifty for India, the Men in Blue fell short by 50 runs while chasing a mammoth target of 216.

New Zealand’s victory was built on a ferocious opening partnership between Tim Seifert and Devon Conway, followed by a clinical bowling display led by captain Mitchell Santner. Although India had already secured an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, this match served as a wake-up call and a spectacle of raw power-hitting ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Match Summary Table: IND vs NZ 4th T20I

First Innings: Kiwi Openers Set the Stage on Fire

After being put into bat, New Zealand came out with a point to prove. The opening duo of Tim Seifert and Devon Conway dismantled the Indian pace attack from the very first over.

• The Powerplay Blitz: New Zealand raced to 71/0 in the first six overs, their best start of the series.

• 100-Run Stand: The pair added exactly 100 runs for the first wicket in just 8.2 overs. Seifert was the aggressor, reaching his half-century in just 25 balls.

• Indian Fightback: Kuldeep Yadav eventually broke the deadlock by dismissing Conway (44 off 23). Jasprit Bumrah then tightened the screws, removing Rachin Ravindra for a mere 2 runs.

• The Finishing Kick: While the middle order stuttered, Daryl Mitchell played a vital cameo of 39 off 18 balls*, ensuring the visitors crossed the 210-mark.

New Zealand Batting Stats

India Bowling Stats

Second Innings: Dube’s Fireworks Amidst a Top-Order Collapse

India’s chase of 216 started in disastrous fashion. Abhishek Sharma fell for a golden duck to Matt Henry, and the captain Suryakumar Yadav followed shortly after, departing for just 8 runs.

The Shivam Dube Show

When India was reeling at 82/5, Shivam Dube walked in and completely changed the atmosphere. He took a particular liking to Ish Sodhi, smashing him for 29 runs in a single over (4, 6, 4, 6, 6)

Record Alert: Shivam Dube reached his fifty in just 15 balls, making it the third-fastest T20I half-century by an Indian, trailing only Yuvraj Singh (12 balls) and Abhishek Sharma (14 balls).

Dube’s innings of 65 was cut short in the most unfortunate manner—a “Mankad-style” run out at the non-striker’s end. Harshit Rana hit a straight drive that deflected off bowler Zakary Foulkes’ fingers onto the stumps, with Dube out of his crease.

India Batting Stats

New Zealand Bowling Stats

Key Takeaways & Conclusion

1. New Zealand’s Resilience: After three heavy defeats, the Black Caps showed great character. Their aggressive intent in the Powerplay was the deciding factor.

2. Dube’s Maturity: Shivam Dube has cemented his spot as a primary finisher. His ability to clear the ropes at will makes him a massive asset for the World Cup.

3. Spin Control: While India’s spinners (Kuldeep and Bishnoi) were expensive, Mitchell Santner showed his class, finishing with 3/26 on a batting-friendly deck.

4. Death Bowling Concerns: India conceded 63 runs in the final five overs, an area coach Gautam Gambhir will surely look to address before the final T20I.

The series now moves to the final match, where India will look to finish on a high (4-1), while New Zealand will aim to carry this momentum forward.

Match Details: India vs New Zealand, 5th T20I