Shivam Dube shone brightly with a remarkable 65 runs, but it wasn’t enough to save India from a 50-run loss against New Zealand in the fourth T20I in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. Dube’s explosive innings came off just 23 balls and included three fours and seven sixes as India attempted to chase down a daunting target of 216. Ultimately, India folded for 165 all out, trailing 3-1 in the five-match series.
With Ishan Kishan sidelined due to an unspecified injury, Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav were expected to spearhead the chase. However, disaster struck early as Abhishek was dismissed for a duck on the first ball, caught by Devon Conway off Matt Henry’s bowling. Suryakumar followed suit shortly after, getting out for 8 as Jacob Duffy grabbed a spectacular return catch, leaving India in deep trouble at 9 for 2.
Rinku Singh and Sanju Samson attempted to stabilize the innings, scoring 39 and 24 runs, respectively. However, they found it difficult to accelerate the scoring during both the Power Play and beyond. Rinku fell leg-before to Zak Foulkes, while Samson was bowled by Mitchell Santner’s straight delivery, leading to a further collapse as Hardik Pandya was dismissed cheaply for just 2 runs. By the 11th over, India was struggling at 82 for 5, with only Dube and Harshit Rana left to salvage the innings.
Dube showed remarkable courage and composure amidst mounting pressure, particularly as the required run rate hovered around 14 runs per over. He was initially saved by the Decision Review System (DRS) on a leg-before appeal when he was on 46 and went on to ramp up the scoring, smashing 29 runs off Ish Sodhi’s third over, which included a flurry of boundaries. Dube reached his fifty in a mere 15 balls, hitting a six over square leg off Duffy.
The sixth-wicket partnership between Dube and Harshit Rana added 63 runs, although Rana’s contribution was just four runs. Dube’s innings ended when Rana’s straight drive deflected off Henry’s hand, causing a run out at the non-striker’s end and signaling the demise of India’s hopes for victory.
Earlier, New Zealand had set a formidable total, with Tim Seifert top-scoring for the Kiwis with 62 runs off 36 balls. His innings featured seven fours and three sixes, showcasing his aggressive approach after joining the squad from the recent Big Bash League. Despite his efforts, he lacked consistent support from his teammates, as India’s bowlers tightened their grip during the middle overs. Seifert opened his account aggressively, striking Arshdeep Singh for three consecutive fours, and later added impressive hits against Rana and Jasprit Bumrah.
In the end, New Zealand compiled 215 runs for 7 in their 20 overs, while India fell well short, finishing at 165 all out in just 18.4 overs. The defeat leaves India with a significant challenge ahead as they seek to bounce back in the remaining matches of the series.
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/01/29/dubes-marauding-fifty-in-vain-as-nz-beat-india/
Category: NATIONAL,SPORTS
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Publish Date: 2026-01-29 02:50:00
