India’s camp spoke with two very different voices after the 244-run thrashing in the fourth ODI against New Zealand — and the contrast between stand-in captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir has become the defining subplot before Sunday’s series decider.
Chasing 334 at Bay Oval on Friday, India were bowled out for 89 in 26.4 overs, their second-heaviest defeat by runs in ODI history. Matt Henry destroyed the chase in the first over itself, removing Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Iyer for ducks in a triple-wicket maiden, and India were 0 for 3 before a run was on the board. Kyle Jamieson then removed Ruturaj Gaikwad, and at 26 for 4 after 10 overs India had posted their lowest powerplay total in an ODI since the 2023 World Cup.
Iyer, speaking at the post-match presentation, stood firmly behind his batters. He argued that the Bay Oval surface behaved entirely differently in the second innings, turning from a flat track into a seamer-friendly one, and that Henry’s bowling was simply too good. “There was a huge difference in the first innings and the second innings in terms of wicket, but also credit where it’s due, the way Henry bowled in the right areas right from ball one. I think that was sensational,” he said. “No one threw the wicket away. It was good deliveries.”
Gambhir, at his post-match press conference, would have none of it. “There are no unplayable deliveries in international cricket. Matt Henry bowled in good areas but we should be able to negate that,” he said. “You are always concerned when you get bundled out for 90 odd.” For the coach, the deeper worry was not the score but the speed of the collapse — and the fact that it followed a similar wobble in Wellington, where India slipped to 111 for 7 chasing a revised target of 135. “The bigger concern is not the runs. It’s how quickly we got bundled out, around 26 or 27 overs. That is something which is always a concern.”
Gambhir also pointed to the fielding — dropped catches gave Will Young (125) vital early reprieves — and said New Zealand’s conditions were close to what India might face at the 2027 ODI World Cup, less than a year away. Former opener Aakash Chopra backed the coach’s message: “You can’t completely surrender. You have to find a way.”
Sunday’s decider at the same venue will test which reading prevails. India still lead 2-1, but Rohit’s three innings have brought 0, 23 and 0, and Kohli’s 74 in the opener remains India’s only half-century of the series. Iyer wants his side to draw on the two matches they have already won; Gambhir wants sterner resolve from the first 10 overs. One of them will be proved right.
Related:
There Are No Unplayable Deliveries Gambhir Blasts India’s Batting After 89 All Out
India Eye Series Win In Bay Oval Decider As New Zealand Chase 2-2 Without Henry
