VISAKHAPATNAM, India – In a stunning 50-run defeat to New Zealand in the fourth T20I at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav opened up about his strategic team selection. Despite the loss, SKY emphasized that the primary goal was to provide opportunities to players earmarked for the 2026 T20 World Cup squad.
New Zealand posted a formidable 215/7, powered by Devon Conway’s 44 and Tim Seifert’s explosive 62. India crumbled to 165 all out in just 18.4 overs, marking their first loss in the series.
Post-match, Suryakumar explained the bold tactics. ‘We deliberately went in with only six batters to test our five strong bowlers,’ he said. ‘We wanted to simulate high-pressure chases – say 180 or 200 with early wickets down – and see how the team responds.’
The captain won the toss and elected to field, a decision that backfired amid heavy dew. ‘We’ve been batting well first up, but I wanted the players to learn chasing big totals under pressure,’ SKY noted. He reiterated the focus on World Cup probables: ‘We specifically wanted to give chances to those in the World Cup team. Otherwise, we could have picked others.’
Reflecting on the chase, Suryakumar pointed to missed partnerships. ‘Dew was a factor. If one or two stands had built like Dube’s innings, the result might have differed. We lost by 50, but in such chases, partnerships make all the difference.’
This loss serves as a learning curve for India ahead of the series decider, with SKY’s vision clear: building a robust World Cup core through real-match experience.