Shreyas Iyer has a day to forget as India slip to their 2nd biggest T20I defeat

Brief Score, 4th T20I: New Zealand (259 for 7 in 20 overs) beat India (172 for 9 in 20 overs) by 87 runs at Eden Park, Auckland. Scorecard | HighlightsDays after sealing an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, India produced a disappointing performance in the fourth T20I against New Zealand in Auckland on Friday. After conceding 259, the highest total they have ever allowed in a T20I, India were restricted to 172 for 9 in their 20 overs. The 87-run defeat was India's second-biggest loss by runs in T20I cricket, coming three months after they were hammered by 125 runs by England in Nottingham in July.Glenn Phillips was the star of the show as the New Zealand all-rounder continued his fine run in the series, smashing a 49-ball 107 at Eden Park to help the hosts post their highest-ever T20I total. It was a much-needed victory for New Zealand, who had been staring at a series whitewash after losing the first three matches.Meanwhile, India captain Shreyas Iyer found himself under scrutiny. On a day when he needed to step up with the bat following the early departures of the top order, including last match's centurion Abhishek Sharma, Iyer managed just 22 off 11 deliveries before being bowled by Adam Milne inside the powerplay. The modest contribution extended his wait for a half-century in T20Is to eight innings. INDIA'S TOP ORDER COLLAPSES Sanju Samson was out for 4 in the first over of the chase (AP Photo) Chasing a mammoth 260, India needed a strong start. Instead, they suffered a nightmare beginning as Sanju Samson, who returned to open the batting after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out, was dismissed off the second ball of the innings. Fit-again Ishan Kishan, brought into the XI in place of Sooryavanshi, fell for a duck as Jacob Duffy gave New Zealand a dream start with two wickets in the opening over.Abhishek tried to put the pressure back on the Black Caps during the powerplay, but he fell for 27 off 15 deliveries after Matthew Fisher beat the left-handed opener for pace. With Iyer also departing inside the powerplay, India were left reeling at 56 for 4. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Axar Patel, who was promoted ahead of Tilak Varma, attempted to rebuild, adding 30 runs for the fifth wicket. However, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner dealt India a double blow in the ninth over, dismissing both batters to leave the visitors struggling at 89 for 6.India needed something extraordinary from the lower middle order, but neither Naman Dhir nor vice-captain Tilak Varma could produce the innings required to revive the chase. Tilak top-scored with 35, but the asking rate had long moved beyond India's reach. The visitors batted out their full quota of 20 overs, finishing on 172 for 9 to suffer a chastening defeat.PHILLIPS DECIMATES INDIAN ATTACKThe 259-run total was the third time India had conceded more than 250 in a T20I this year. Until 2026, India had never allowed an opposition to score 250 or more in the format. However, they have now conceded three such totals under Iyer's captaincy in the last four months, with England scoring 257 for 3 in Southampton and the West Indies posting 252 for 4 in Ranchi earlier this month.Having sealed the series with a 3-0 lead, India won the toss for the fourth successive time and opted to bowl. The decision initially appeared to be paying off as Mayank Yadav struck in the very first over, dismissing Tim Seifert, before removing Daryl Mitchell in his second. Mitchell, however, had already made an impact with a blistering 24 off nine balls.Finn Allen continued the assault, scoring 31 off 17 deliveries before Axar Patel dismissed him in the eighth over. At the other end, Phillips ensured New Zealand maintained their momentum, taking advantage of the short boundaries at Eden Park. The hosts reached 67 for 2 in the powerplay and were 113 for 4 at the end of the 11th over, with Bevon Jacobs also falling to Mayank for seven.Just when India appeared to have pulled things back, Phillips and Michael Bracewell launched a breathtaking counter-attack. The pair added 115 runs for the fifth wicket in just 40 deliveries, completely shifting the momentum in New Zealand's favour.Phillips brings up his 3rd T20I ton in authoritative style Watch #NZvsIND 4th T20I LIVE NOW on #SonyLIV and #SonySportsNetwork https://t.co/M5JSjlfFxh— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) October 30, 2026The assault began with part-time off-spinner Naman Dhir conceding 16 runs in the 12th over. Things got considerably worse when Nitish Kumar Reddy was taken for 32 in the 16th over. Phillips went after the SunRisers Hyderabad all-rounder, smashing him for four consecutive sixes in a brutal display of power-hitting.Bracewell joined the carnage, taking on both spin and pace as he raced to a half-century off just 19 deliveries. The left-hander eventually finished with 65 off 25 balls, including four boundaries and six sixes, before Prince Yadav brought his innings to an end with a yorker. Phillips, meanwhile, brought up his third T20I hundred off 46 deliveries, eventually falling for 107 off 49 balls. His innings included six fours and 10 sixes.India managed to pull things back in the final three overs, conceding only 33 runs during that period. However, the damage had already been done. New Zealand plundered 146 runs in the final nine overs, finishing with 259 for 7.ARSHDEEP THE LONE BRIGHT SPOTLeft-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh was the one Indian bowler who managed to keep the New Zealand batters relatively quiet. He conceded fewer than 10 runs per over and picked up the wicket of captain Mitchell Santner. The dismissal took Arshdeep to 150 T20I wickets, making him the first Indian bowler and the ninth overall to reach the landmark.Arshdeep also set a new record for the most wickets taken by a bowler from a Full Member nation in a calendar year in T20Is, going past Ireland's Josh Little, who claimed 39 wickets in 2022.Mayank, meanwhile, finished with three wickets for 48 runs, offering India some encouragement with his pace and ability to strike in the powerplay. However, Nitish Kumar Reddy endured a difficult outing, conceding 64 runs in his four overs.With the series already secured, India will look to put the heavy defeat behind them when the two sides meet for the fifth and final T20I in Hamilton on Sunday. But the bowling performance, coupled with Iyer's continuing struggles with the bat, will give the team management plenty to think about.- Ends