Former player Cheteshwar Pujara predicts Virat Kohli will score a century in India vs New Zealand series

The fourth T20I between India and New Zealand will take place in Auckland. India has already won the T20 series 3-0, and the team delegation has arrived at Eden Park in Auckland. Although the fourth match will be held at this venue, the Indian team has never lost here, and importantly, in every match, India batted second and secured a victory.

It can be argued that this small stadium in New Zealand has become a kind of home ground for India. So far, India has played three T20 Internationals here and won all three. The Indian team has a flawless winning record here—one hundred percent.

The next match is scheduled for Friday, October 30. Previous matches mentioned in the article include:

The first match between the two teams at this venue took place on February 8, 2019. New Zealand scored 158 runs. In this contest, the Player of the Match was Krunal Pandya, who took 3 wickets and scored 28 runs off 4 overs. India won by 7 wickets in 18.5 overs. Rohit Sharma scored 50, and Shikhar Dhawan scored 30 in the chase. Rishabh Pant came in at number three and played a stellar innings of 40 runs off 28 balls, while Mahendra Singh Dhoni also remained on the field with 20 runs.

The second T20 at this ground was on January 24, 2020. The hosts reached a total of 203 runs. India won by scoring 204 runs in 19 overs, leaving 6 wickets in hand. The star of this match, who was named Player of the Match, was Shreyas Iyer, the current captain of the team. This venue holds special significance for him.

The third T20 between these two nations at Eden Park took place on January 26, 2020. New Zealand scored only 132 runs. India won the match by taking 7 wickets in 17.3 overs. KL Rahul was named Player of the Match for his innings of 57 runs off 50 balls. Shreyas Iyer also played at this venue, scoring 44 runs off 33 balls.

Thus, the Indian team won all three matches while batting second and chasing the target. The fourth T20 will take place this Friday, October 30. Thanks to the victories in the first three matches, India holds a 3-0 advantage. The team, led by Shreyas Iyer, is in good form. Now, Eden Park represents a daunting record for the New Zealand team, which will create additional pressure. The question is whether the New Zealand team can break the streak of defeats from the first three matches, as history clearly shows Indian dominance at Eden Park.

Despite the Indian team demonstrating dominance in the T20 series against New Zealand, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match tournament, there is another side to the coin. While the Indian batsmen are playing successfully, their bowlers are struggling to make an impression.

In the upcoming match on Tuesday, India will face the task not only of winning the series but also of addressing shortcomings in their bowling game. This match will start in Wellington at 12:30 Indian time. The team, led by Shreyas Iyer, intends to maintain its momentum towards victories.

However, attention will be focused on the players responsible for bowling in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested, and during Hardik Pandya's recovery period. Special hope is placed on Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh, who are expected to deliver better performances.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to international cricket after four years away has not yet met expectations. In the first two matches played in Christchurch, he conceded 49 and 50 runs respectively for his four overs. An experienced swing bowler was expected to trouble the New Zealand batsmen with his cunning and precise line and length, but so far he has not managed this.

Nevertheless, Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel supported Bhuvneshwar, noting that there is a significant difference between local level training and the pressure of international cricket. Bhuvneshwar had to prepare for his return to the team in a short time, and even small mistakes at the international level can prove costly.

The reserve ground in Wellington will be a new test for Bhuvneshwar. The strong and variable winds blowing there can help the ball swing. Bhuvneshwar has a chance to demonstrate his strength, but India needs not only his experience but also wickets and economical bowling.

Arshdeep Singh's role will also be crucial. This left-arm fast bowler has the ability to direct the ball away from right-handed batsmen and inwards when necessary. Top-order batsmen in New Zealand include Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, and Daryl Mitchell, who have yet to show their full potential in the series.

In the hosts' batting lineup, Glenn Phillips made a significant contribution, scoring half-centuries in the middle order. Ben Vance also scored runs in the previous match. India aims to prevent New Zealand from posting a large score by taking early wickets.

The hosts may also lack fast bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry, who were rested as part of workload management. Matt Fisher and Blair Tickner were included instead. This could be a relief for the Indian batsmen, but they will have to play according to the conditions.

Indian batsmen brought the team wins in high-scoring matches in the first two games. However, the cold evenings of New Zealand and the strong winds in Wellington will not make the game easy. Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi must focus on their technique and shot selection in these conditions.

Vaibhav's performance in New Zealand conditions will be important experience for his future. The opportunities gained in international cricket at such a young age can help him improve his game.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir's strategy of using Tilak Verma, Naman Dira, and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the middle order proved effective in the first two matches. India tested 13 players in the first two games. Vaibhav Suryavanshi got a chance instead of injured Ishan Kishan, and in the second match, Prince Yadav replaced Mainak Yadav.

India won the five-match T20 series against New Zealand during the 2020 tour with a score of 5-0. In the next tour in 2022-23, the Indian team also won this match, which was not cancelled due to bad weather. Now the team has another opportunity to assert its dominance in New Zealand.

A win on Tuesday will give India an undisputed 3-0 advantage in the five-match series. However, the importance of this match is not limited to just winning the series. Batting has helped the team get through difficulties so far; now the bowlers must also justify the trust. Scoring big is good, but a strong team is one that can restrict the opponent's batsmen.