India’s middle order fought valiantly in the fourth T20I against New Zealand, but a monumental effort from Shivam Dube wasn’t enough to prevent a 50-run defeat in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. Chasing a daunting target of 216, India were bowled out for 165, with Dube’s 65 off 23 balls — the third-fastest fifty by an Indian in T20 Internationals — standing out as the lone standout performance in an otherwise disappointing chase.
Dube’s Heroics Amid India’s Struggles
With the innings in early trouble and wickets falling in quick succession, Dube’s assault offered India a glimmer of hope. Coming in when the team was struggling at 77/4, he tore into Ish Sodhi’s bowling in the 12th over, smashing 29 runs off that over alone to energize the chase. His explosive strike rate and aggressive stroke play electrified the Visakhapatnam crowd as he raced to his fifty in just 15 deliveries — a feat only surpassed by Yuvraj Singh and Abhishek Sharma in Indian T20I history.
Despite this individual brilliance, India’s batting around him faltered. Key batters failed to build partnerships, and consistent pressure from the New Zealand bowlers prevented momentum from shifting fully India’s way. The target always remained out of reach, and Dube’s dismissal via run out late in the chase ultimately halted India’s recovery.
New Zealand Dominate After Big Total
Earlier, New Zealand piled up 215/7 in their 20 overs, with contributions across the order. Tim Seifert’s 62 and valuable support from Devon Conway helped set a challenging total on a batting-friendly wicket. The Kiwis’ innings was paced well, allowing them to take full advantage of the strong conditions before India began their response.
India’s bowlers managed patches of control in the middle overs, but they conceded too many runs overall, especially in the death overs where 47 runs came off the last three. This added more pressure on the Indian batting unit, which could never quite stabilize the chase.
What It Means Going Forward
While Dube’s flamboyant fifty will be remembered as one of the most exciting personal innings in the series, the loss highlighted India’s struggle to contain opposition batsmen and build resilient batting partnerships. The defeat narrows India’s dominant position in the series and offers plenty of food for thought as they look ahead to the fifth and final T20I and their preparations for future international challenges.
