After India's 244-run defeat in the fourth ODI against New Zealand, Gautam Gambhir expressed displeasure over the performance of the batsmen. He said that in international cricket there is no ball which cannot be played. Questions were also raised on poor fielding.
Sports News: After the Indian team was all out for 89 runs in the fourth ODI against New Zealand, head coach Gautam Gambhir has expressed concern over the performance of the batsmen. India lost by 244 runs in the match played at Bay Oval on Friday, 13 November 2026. After the match, Gambhir praised the bowling of Matt Henry, but also said that batsmen should know how to face such challenges at the international level.
Team India was reduced to 89 runs, Gambhir gave advice to the batsmen
Team India's batting completely disintegrated in the fourth ODI between India and New Zealand. The Indian team, which set a target of 334 runs, was out after scoring 89 runs in just 26.4 overs. After this defeat, head coach Gautam Gambhir raised questions on the way the batsmen played in the press conference. Gambhir said that New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry bowled on good line and length. However, the Indian batsmen should have found ways to face such balls.
He clearly said that in international cricket there is no ball which is impossible to play. According to him, batsmen should understand the movement of the ball and change their technique. Gambhir admitted that the team's batting is increasingly becoming a matter of concern. He said that when a team is restricted to around 90 runs, it cannot be considered a normal performance.
Matt Henry broke India's back in the first over itself.
New Zealand fast bowler Matt Henry changed the course of the match at the very beginning of the Indian innings. He took three wickets in the first over without giving any runs. Rohit Sharma was out on the first ball of the innings. After this, Virat Kohli was bowled on the fifth ball. Captain Shreyas Iyer also returned to the pavilion on the last ball of the over without opening his account.
With all three big batsmen out, India's score became three wickets without any runs. After this, Rituraj Gaikwad was also out after scoring five runs and the team had lost four wickets for nine runs. Henry took six wickets for only 27 runs in 9.4 overs in the match. This was his best performance in ODI cricket.
Line-length troubled me more than ball movement.
Gambhir also expressed his views on the technique of Indian batsmen. He said that there was not much swing or seam movement in New Zealand's bowling. The correct line and length of the ball played a big role in troubling the batsmen. According to the coach, the Indian batsmen remained stuck in the crease and could not respond properly to the movement of the ball.
He said that in difficult circumstances the team will have to show better preparation both mentally and technically. On such pitches, scoring 35 to 40 runs in the initial overs without losing wickets can also be a good start. Referring to the last match, Gambhir said that in that match also India had lost seven wickets for 111 runs. This type of batting faltering in two consecutive matches is a matter of concern for them.
What did Gambhir say on the missed catches of Rohit and Ishaan?
Poor fielding also played a big role in the defeat of the Indian team. New Zealand batsman Will Young got life on two consecutive balls in the beginning. In the second over, Rohit Sharma dropped Young's catch in the slip off Aaqib Nabi's ball. Even wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan could not catch the chance on the very next ball. At that time Young was playing after scoring only five runs.
After this Young played a brilliant inning of 125 runs in 108 balls. With the help of his batting, New Zealand scored 333 runs. Gambhir said that Aaqib Nabi was unlucky. If Young's wicket had been found in the beginning, the situation of the match could have been different. However, he also admitted that it is easier to say such things after the match is over. The team dropped catches and had to suffer the loss.
Gambhir's worries increase before 2027 ODI World Cup
Gautam Gambhir has also linked this defeat to the preparations for next year's ODI World Cup. The 2027 ODI World Cup will be played in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Gambhir believes that the conditions being faced in New Zealand could be very similar to the conditions being faced during the World Cup.
In such a situation, Indian batsmen will have to improve their preparation against fast bowling. The team has experienced players, but they will also have to take responsibility in difficult times. Currently, India is leading 2-1 in the five-match series. The fifth and last ODI will be played on the same ground on Sunday, November 15.