Aakash Chopra picks Ishan Kishan as opener, reveals India’s predicted XI for 4th ODI against New Zealand

Aakash Chopra picks Ishan Kishan as opener, reveals India’s predicted XI for 4th ODI against New Zealand

India vs New Zealand 4th ODI: Aakash Chopra Backs Ishan Kishan to Open as India Eye Series Win

India will have the chance to secure the ODI series when they face New Zealand in the fourth match at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. With the visitors holding a 2-0 lead in the five-match contest and the third ODI abandoned, the hosts need a victory to keep their hopes alive. Former India opener Aakash Chopra has suggested a reshuffle at the top of the order, backing Ishan Kishan to partner Rohit Sharma and proposing a middle-order role for Ruturaj Gaikwad.

The match is also an opportunity for India to complete a series win in New Zealand for the first time since the 2018-19 season. With the series finely poised from the hosts’ perspective, team selection, batting positions and conditions at Bay Oval could all shape the contest. Chopra’s prediction for India’s possible playing XI has therefore added another talking point ahead of the fourth ODI.

Aakash Chopra’s prediction: Ishan Kishan to open with Rohit Sharma

Chopra believes Kishan should be promoted to the opening position rather than being held back for the middle order. The former batter said the left-hander could give India a left-right combination alongside Rohit, potentially making it harder for New Zealand’s bowlers to settle into a consistent line and length early in the innings.

“The big question for the Indian selectors and team management would be whether to play Ishan Kishan as an opener or a middle-order batter. I would make him open. It will be a left-right combination. He can open with Rohit Sharma,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel, as reported by NDTV.

A left-right opening pair can offer more than variety on the scoreboard. It may prompt bowlers to adjust their angles and fields, while also giving India a chance to use Kishan’s attacking instincts during the powerplay. However, changing a batter’s position can affect the balance of the rest of the order, which is why Chopra’s suggestion also involves a clear role for Gaikwad.

Ruturaj Gaikwad could slot in at No. 4 or No. 5

If Kishan opens, Chopra sees Gaikwad as a candidate to bat in the middle order. He pointed out that Gaikwad has already played at No. 4 for India and scored a century in that role, giving the team a possible solution without asking him to take on an entirely unfamiliar assignment.

Chopra acknowledged that opening is Gaikwad’s natural position, but argued that the team could make use of the flexibility it has previously shown. In his view, if India have already asked Gaikwad to bat in the middle order, the fourth ODI could be a suitable opportunity to continue with that plan.

“If that happens, you can comfortably play Ruturaj Gaikwad at No. 4 or No. 5 because when Ruturaj played the last time, he played at No. 4. He scored a hundred as well,” Chopra said. He added that the batter has not had many opportunities and that the upcoming match could provide a valuable chance to establish himself in the role.

The proposed arrangement would give India a top order featuring Rohit and Kishan, followed by Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Gaikwad. That combination would offer experience, left-right variety and a player with a proven record of scoring a hundred from the middle order. Whether the team management chooses to adopt it will depend on its preferred balance and the roles it wants to preserve.

Siraj or Kuldeep? Bay Oval conditions may decide the final spot

Chopra’s predicted XI also includes a selection dilemma in the bowling attack. He suggested that Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav could compete for the final place, with the pitch and the dimensions of the Mount Maunganui ground likely to influence the decision.

Bay Oval is regarded as a relatively large venue, a factor Chopra said could make Kuldeep an attractive option. A wrist-spinner can be particularly useful when a ground offers room for batters to find the boundary, as variations in flight, pace and turn may help restrict scoring and create wicket-taking opportunities. If India prefer additional pace, however, Siraj could retain his place.

Chopra’s suggested XI includes Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan as openers, followed by Kohli, Iyer and Gaikwad. Naman Dhir and Axar Patel would add further batting depth, while Auqib Nabi would come in at No. 8. Chopra also named Gurnoor Brar and Arshdeep Singh among his preferred bowlers, with either Siraj or Kuldeep completing the attack.

He said he would like to see Auqib Nabi feature in the remaining matches, describing the Jammu and Kashmir pacer as a player who could contribute with both ball and bat. Including a lower-order batter at No. 8 would give India additional depth, though the final combination would still need to provide enough specialist bowling options for the conditions.

What the fourth ODI could mean for both teams

For India, the immediate objective is clear: win the fourth ODI and seal the series with a match to spare. The team can use the game to test its batting combinations, but it must also avoid disrupting a lineup that has already put it in a strong position. A victory would confirm the series result, while a defeat would give New Zealand renewed momentum heading into the final match.

New Zealand, meanwhile, need a complete performance to stay in contention. The hosts will be looking to make the most of familiar conditions at Bay Oval and put pressure on India’s batters early. The opening partnership, the effectiveness of the middle order and the contest between India’s bowlers and New Zealand’s top order could prove decisive.

Chopra’s prediction offers one possible blueprint, particularly his case for using Kishan at the top and Gaikwad in the middle. But the final selection will rest with India’s management, which must weigh player roles against the pitch, weather and series situation. With a series victory within reach for India and survival on the line for New Zealand, the fourth ODI promises a compelling test of both strategy and execution.

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