4th ODI Live Score: Kuldeep Yadav gets his chance as India opt to bowl
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the 4th ODI between India and New Zealand in Mount Maunganui.
India have made some significant changes to their playing XI, as expected with Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and others away on Test duty.
Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan come into the side to give the batting line-up a fresh look, but the big news is the return of Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm wrist-spinner finally gets a game as India look to make the most of their reshuffled combination at Bay Oval.
India win the toss again! At this point, it hardly seems to matter who walks out for the toss, the coin keeps falling India's way.
Shreyas Iyer has made it three toss wins in a row for the visitors and opted to bowl first at Bay Oval. Can India's bowlers make the most of the decision and put New Zealand under early pressure?
With Shubman Gill and KL Rahul away on Test duty, India's batting order is getting a makeover. But two familiar faces remain at its heart. Rohit Sharma has managed just 23 runs in two innings, while Virat Kohli is India's leading run-scorer in the series with 81, including a match-winning 74 in the opener.
Neither side has crossed 200 in the two completed ODIs. Rohit will be keen to find his touch, while Kohli will look to build on his strong start. Could the experienced duo finally deliver the substantial batting performance this series has been waiting for?
After all the rain drama in Auckland, Wellington and Hamilton, the hope is that Mount Maunganui gives us a proper game. Bay Oval has traditionally offered decent pace, bounce and carry, which should keep the fast bowlers interested. Interestingly, four of the last five ODIs at this venue have been won by the team batting second. India's top three have also been in terrific ODI form, averaging 55.3 since the 2023 World Cup, with 17 hundreds in that period. Plenty to look forward to if the weather stays away!
The hosts are not quite at full strength either. Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell and Henry Nicholls are among the players who have left the ODI group for Test preparations. Finn Allen and Tim Seifert could provide the attacking spark at the top, while Mitchell Santner will have to marshal a reshuffled batting line-up. Matt Henry's return to the mix is a significant boost for the hosts after his injury concerns earlier in the series. New Zealand need their fresh faces to step up quickly.
There is a change in leadership for India today.
With Shubman Gill leaving to join the Test squad, Shreyas Iyer takes over the captaincy for the final two ODIs. KL Rahul and Anshul Kamboj have also moved on to Test preparations, opening up opportunities in the playing XI. Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Tilak Varma are among those who could benefit. It is a chance for Iyer to make his mark as ODI captain, with a series win waiting to be sealed.
Good morning, folks! We are back in action in Mount Maunganui, where India take on New Zealand in the fourth ODI of the series.
The visitors lead 2-0 after winning the first two matches, while the third game in Hamilton was washed out despite the toss being completed. India need just one more win to seal the series, while New Zealand must win both remaining games to force a draw. Can the hosts finally get some uninterrupted cricket and make this contest interesting?
