IND vs NZ fourth T20I | Samson in focus as the action moves to the City of Destiny

India faces New Zealand in the fourth T20I, with Sanju Samson's form under scrutiny amid Kishan's impressive performance.

India, having sealed the five-match series in Guwahati earlier this week, will turn its attention to a few lingering concerns when it faces New Zealand in the fourth T20I at the ACA-VDCA Stadium on Wednesday (January 28, 2026).

Chief among them is Sanju Samson’s form. Despite possessing undeniable talent and sound technique, the wicketkeeper-batter has failed to make his opportunities count, even on surfaces tailor-made for stroke-play.

Scores of 10 and six in the first two matches were followed by a golden duck at the Gateway of the North East, leaving him vulnerable to serious scrutiny.

What compounds Samson’s predicament is Ishan Kishan’s scorching form, his direct competitor for the opener-keeper role. The weight of expectation — which has only increased since being preferred over Shubman Gill — appears to have taken its toll, and time is fast running out for the 31-year-old to cement his position in India’s T20 setup.

India may also tweak its spin combination. Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi present strong alternatives to the likes of Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy, who have struggled to find consistency in this series, especially on a surface that can slow down as the match progresses.

Beyond that, it has been smooth sailing for the Men in Blue ahead of their World Cup title defence. The focus could now shift towards giving players on the fringes — Shreyas Iyer among them — valuable game time to build momentum and confidence in the two fixtures that remain.