Shreyas Iyer will captain India for the first time in ODI cricket when the visitors take on New Zealand in the 4th ODI of the five-match series at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on Friday, 13 November, with the tourists needing just one more win to seal the series. India lead 2-0 after victories in Auckland and Wellington, while the third ODI in Hamilton was washed out without a ball being bowled.

India's Reshaped Leadership Group

Regular skipper Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul have stepped away from the squad to begin Test preparations, handing Iyer the captaincy for the final two matches. Ishan Kishan has been named vice-captain and is among the wicketkeeping contenders, with Kumar Kushagra the other specialist gloveman in the squad.

The batting line-up retains considerable experience, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli available, alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, and Nitish Kumar Reddy. The final two ODIs also offer fringe players such as Auqib Nabi and Yash Thakur a chance to press their international claims.

India's Form and What Changes Without Gill and Rahul

India's two wins have both come in rain-curtailed contests, making Friday's potential full 50-over match a fresh challenge for the reorganised side. Kohli's 74 was the cornerstone of the first game in Auckland, while in Wellington the bowlers took over — left-arm seamer Gurnoor Brar claimed four wickets as New Zealand were bowled out for 134.

The batting order will need to recalibrate in the absence of Gill and Rahul, two of India's most consistent ODI contributors in recent times. Notably, this is only the second time in the current cycle that India's first-choice top six has been unavailable simultaneously, adding a layer of tactical intrigue to the selection.

New Zealand's Depleted Squad

The hosts are dealing with significant personnel disruption. Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Glenn Phillips, and Nathan Smith have all been released for Test preparations, while Lockie Ferguson remains unavailable with a calf injury. Blair Tickner is also ruled out of the fourth match after serving the mandatory stand-down period following a concussion substitute appearance in the second ODI.

Matt Henry is expected to return to bolster the bowling attack, alongside Jacob Duffy and Kyle Jamieson. Finn Allen has been included for the final two games, and uncapped fast bowler Brett Randell has earned a maiden call-up and is likely to make his international debut at Bay Oval. Captain Mitchell Santner will look to rebuild the batting around Will Young, Tim Seifert, and Nick Kelly.

Venue and Conditions

Bay Oval is known to offer seam movement early, with new-ball bowlers capable of causing problems under overcast conditions typical of this time of year. However, the pitch generally flattens as the innings progresses, giving batters the opportunity to settle and play their natural game in the middle and death overs. Both sides will be aware that conditions can shift quickly, as the Hamilton washout illustrated.

Match Details and How to Watch

The 4th ODI begins at 7:30 AM IST on Friday, 13 November at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. The match will be televised live on the Sony Sports Network channels, with live streaming available on the Sony LIV app and website. With the series still alive for New Zealand and India's new-look leadership group looking to make a statement, Friday's contest promises a compelling examination of both teams' depth and adaptability.