The short version
Shreyas Iyer will captain India for the first time in the 4th ODI against New Zealand at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, on Friday 13 November. First ball is 7:30 AM IST (7:00 AM in Pakistan). India lead the five-match series 2-0, so they cannot lose it. A win here seals it with a game to spare.
This is not the same India side that started the tour. Shubman Gill and KL Rahul have moved across to the Test squad, and Iyer takes charge for the last two ODIs, according to Business Standard. Ishan Kishan is his deputy. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are still here, and that is the part most fans will care about.
Our angle is simple. Forget the scoreline for a moment. These two games are a rare look at India’s ODI depth less than 11 months out from the World Cup in South Africa.
How the series got to 2-0
Rain has been the main opponent so far. India won the first ODI by five wickets and the second by four runs, both in rain-hit games settled by DLS, according to the ICC. The third match at Hamilton on 10 November was washed out without a ball bowled.
| Match | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI, 4 Nov | Auckland | India won by 5 wickets (DLS) |
| 2nd ODI, 7 Nov | Wellington | India won by 4 runs (DLS) |
| 3rd ODI, 10 Nov | Hamilton | No result |
| 4th ODI, 13 Nov | Mount Maunganui | 7:30 AM IST |
| 5th ODI, 15 Nov | Mount Maunganui | Final game |
Kohli made 74 off 51 balls in the opener. Rohit has had a quiet series, with a duck and then 23. For New Zealand, seamer Jacob Duffy has six wickets.
The good news: the forecast for Friday is sunny, so this could be the first full 50-over game of the series.
Who’s in and who’s out
India have shuffled the squad for the last two games. Gill, Rahul and Anshul Kamboj are out. Tilak Varma, wicketkeeper Kumar Kushagra and seamer Yash Thakur are in. Jasprit Bumrah is not in the ODI squad.
New Zealand have changed even more. Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips and Nathan Smith have left to prepare for the two-Test series against India. Lockie Ferguson (calf) and Blair Tickner (concussion) are injured, and Devon Conway is still recovering from a concussion. Pacer Brett Randell, 31, has earned a first call-up and could debut, with all-rounder Josh Clarkson added for the final game, according to the ICC.
India’s probable XI, as listed by Business Standard: Rohit Sharma, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (c), Axar Patel, Ishan Kishan (wk), Naman Dhir, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh. That is a probable side, not the confirmed one. Kuldeep Yadav is in the squad and could easily come in.
Why these two dead-ish games matter for 2027
India’s World Cup squad debate has three big questions. Do Rohit and Kohli still fit? Who leads if the regular captain is missing? And how deep is the fast bowling without Bumrah? Friday touches all three.
Iyer as captain is the first test. He is a middle-order regular, and leading a young attack on a Bay Oval pitch that helps the new ball is a fair audition. Siraj and Arshdeep are the experienced seamers. Auqib Nabi and Gurnoor Brar are the ones still making a case.
For Rohit, two more innings on bouncy New Zealand pitches are useful. South Africa in October and November 2027 will feel similar. We looked at the wider picture in our piece on whether Rohit and Kohli will play the 2027 World Cup.
Our take
India should treat Friday as a trial, not a formality. Play the full-strength top three, give Nabi or Brar the new ball with Siraj, and let Iyer make his own calls. New Zealand are missing almost their entire senior batting group, so a 3-0 or 4-0 finish should not be read as proof of anything. What matters is who stands up when the pressure is on, and whether Rohit gets a big score before the Tests take over the tour.
FAQs
What time does India vs New Zealand 4th ODI start?
The toss is at 7:00 AM IST and play starts at 7:30 AM IST on Friday 13 November. In Pakistan that is 6:30 AM and 7:00 AM.
Where can I watch it in India?
Sony Sports Network on TV and SonyLIV for streaming, according to Business Standard.
Why is Shreyas Iyer captain?
Shubman Gill and KL Rahul have joined the Test squad, and Iyer leads for the final two ODIs.
Sources
- Business Standard: New Zealand vs India 4th ODI preview (12 Nov 2026)
- ICC: Pacer set for debut as Black Caps add duo to squad for India (11 Nov 2026)
About this story. Written by the T20 Cricinfo desk from the sources listed above. Series results, squads and start times were checked against both sources; the playing XIs are probable sides and will only be confirmed at the toss.
