India lead New Zealand 3-0 and play the 4th T20I at Eden Park, Auckland at 12:30 PM IST today. Watch on Sony Sports and SonyLIV. A win keeps the dream of a 5-0 sweep alive.
Updated: 30 October 2026, 10:00 AM IST
Quick Read:
- 4th T20I: Friday, October 30, Eden Park, Auckland. Match starts 12:30 PM IST, toss at 12:00 PM IST.
- India lead the 5-match series 3-0 after wins at Christchurch (twice) and Wellington. Two matches remain.
- Abhishek Sharma smashed 113 off 38 balls in the 3rd T20I. India may test bench players like Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy today.
India have already won the series. Now they chase a clean sweep. The 4th T20I against New Zealand starts at 12:30 PM IST today, Friday, October 30, at Eden Park in Auckland.
India lead the 5-match series 3-0. That lead is unassailable — New Zealand cannot catch up. But two matches remain, so this is not a sweep yet. A win today takes India 4-0 up and keeps a 5-0 finish alive. The final match is at Seddon Park, Hamilton, on November 1.
The toss is at 12:00 PM IST. Watch live on the Sony Sports Network on TV and on the SonyLIV app and website.
What happened in the 3rd T20I
The 3rd T20I at Wellington was a batting storm. New Zealand posted 198/3. India chased it down, reaching 199/4 in just 13.2 overs to win by six wickets.
Abhishek Sharma was the star. He smashed 113 off only 38 balls. That innings set the tone for the chase and showed why he is the most feared batter in this series.
India’s powerplay batting has been brutal all series. Cricbuzz notes India have averaged a powerplay score of 85 in this series. New Zealand’s bowlers have had no answer yet, and Eden Park’s short boundaries will not make their job easier.
What India may test today
With the series won, captain Shreyas Iyer can try new faces. Reports say wrist-spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy could get a game at Eden Park. Both have sat out so far, and the team management will want to see them before the final match.
India’s likely XI, per Cricbuzz, is: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Reddy, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prince Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh or Mayank Yadav.
One thing to watch is the bench balance. India have played non-stop cricket across the world lately, and tired legs show up in the field first. Fresh bowlers at a small ground could matter more than one more big innings.
New Zealand’s problems
New Zealand are hurt and short of answers. Lockie Ferguson is out of the series with a calf injury, and Matt Henry is also unavailable. That leaves their pace attack thin against the most aggressive batting line-up in the series.
Their batters have done their part. The team posted 198 in the last match and still lost with 40 balls to spare. Captain Mitchell Santner has reason to trust his batting, but his bowlers need thicker skin at Eden Park.
Santner himself is a threat. He is the joint-highest wicket-taker against India in T20Is, with 30 wickets, and the only home bowler with an economy rate under ten in this series.
The crowd will be on New Zealand’s side. Eden Park is sold out, with nearly 40,000 fans expected — a record crowd for a bilateral series match in New Zealand. The old record was 36,523, set at the Eden Park doubleheader against India in 2019.
Eden Park pitch and weather
Expect runs. Eden Park has short boundaries, and a successful chase of 245 has happened here before, back in 2018. The last T20I here in March was different — bowlers ran the show — so the pitch can surprise.
Reports put the average first-innings score at 186, with chasing teams winning about 57% of matches. The toss could matter: the captain who wins it may choose to chase.
The Auckland forecast is cloudy with a temperature around 16°C. Rain is not the headline worry in the reports, but Auckland weather can change fast, so check closer to toss time.
Where to watch and what’s next
TV: Sony Sports Network. Streaming: SonyLIV app and website. Match starts 12:30 PM IST, toss at 12:00 PM IST.
If India win today, the November 1 match at Hamilton becomes a sweep decider. If New Zealand win, they save pride and deny India the clean sweep, but the series stays India’s. Either way, Eden Park’s record crowd gets a match with real stakes for the hosts.
FAQ
Q: What time does the IND vs NZ 4th T20I start?
A: 12:30 PM IST on Friday, October 30, 2026, at Eden Park, Auckland. The toss is at 12:00 PM IST.
Q: Has India already won the series?
A: Yes. India lead 3-0 in the 5-match series, so the series is sealed. But two matches remain, so a 5-0 sweep is still on the table.
Q: Where can I watch the match live in India?
A: On Sony Sports Network on TV and on the SonyLIV app and website.
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