Five Villains Behind India’s Defeat in Visakhapatnam: How New Zealand Outplayed the Hosts

India’s winning run in the T20I series against New Zealand came to a halt in Visakhapatnam, where the visitors registered a comprehensive 50-run victory in the fourth match. While New Zealand executed their plans with precision, India’s defeat was also shaped by several underwhelming individual performances. Here are the five players whose failures proved costly for the hosts on the night.

Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson’s struggles with the bat continued, raising serious concerns about his form. Once again, he failed to convert a promising start into a meaningful innings. Samson scored 24 off 15 balls but threw his wicket away at a crucial stage, when India needed stability after early setbacks. Given his experience and the responsibility placed on him, a bigger contribution was expected.

Suryakumar Yadav
As captain, Suryakumar Yadav was entrusted with steadying the innings after India lost Abhishek Sharma on the very first ball. However, the Indian skipper failed to rise to the occasion and was dismissed for 8 off 8 balls, caught and bowled by Jacob Duffy. His early exit further exposed the fragile middle order and dented India’s chase at a critical juncture.

Hardik Pandya
India looked towards Hardik Pandya for leadership and composure during the chase, but the star all-rounder endured a forgettable outing. Pandya managed just 2 runs off 5 balls, failing to counter the New Zealand bowlers when the pressure was mounting. His dismissal left India reeling and shifted momentum firmly in the visitors’ favour.

Harshit Rana
Harshit Rana had a night to forget, contributing little with either bat or ball. The pacer conceded 54 runs in his four overs without picking up a wicket, allowing New Zealand to accelerate in the death overs. His struggles continued in the chase, where he scored only 9 runs off 13 balls, adding to India’s woes during the final phase of the innings.

Ravi Bishnoi
Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi also failed to make an impact on a surface that offered little margin for error. He went for 49 runs in his four-over spell and picked up just one wicket. His inability to contain the New Zealand batters in the middle overs proved expensive and allowed the visitors to post a daunting total.

Despite a valiant counterattack from Shivam Dube, India could not recover from the combined failures of these key players. With the series now at 3–1, the hosts will be eager to regroup, address these shortcomings, and finish the T20I series on a strong note.