Shreyas Iyer Takes Charge at Bay Oval: Three Stars Exit for Tests, Ishan and Siraj Set to Return With Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Anshul Kamboj leaving for Wellington to prepare for the upcoming Test series, India is set for multiple changes in the fourth ODI. The fourth match of the five-fixture one-day international series between India and New Zealand, scheduled for Friday, November 13, at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval, marks a distinct tactical shift for the touring side. Team India will step onto the field with a completely revamped leadership dynamic and an altered squad balance. Regular 50-over skipper Shubman Gill is sitting out of this contest, paving the way for full-time T20 international captain Shreyas Iyer to take the reins of India's ODI lineup for the very first time. Leading the national side in this format represents a major milestone for the experienced Mumbai batter. Three Key Players Head to Wellington for Test Preparations The sudden personnel reshuffle stems from the departure of three core players. Along with Shubman Gill, seasoned wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul and fast bowler Anshul Kamboj are unavailable for selection in this fourth ODI. All three featured in India's starting eleven across the opening three encounters of the tour. However, they have now traveled to Wellington to commence red-ball training ahead of the two-match Test series against the Black Caps, which gets underway on November 19. Their absence makes at least three prominent changes unavoidable for the team management, with further rotational adjustments remaining a distinct possibility. Ishan Kishan Set for Dual Responsibility at the Top To replenish the squad for the final two ODIs, the national selection panel drafted Tilak Varma, Kumar Kushagra, and Yash Thakur into the touring setup. Looking at the composition of the playing eleven, left-handed dynamic batter Ishan Kishan, who remained on the bench through the first three matches, is widely expected to return to the active lineup. The Jharkhand cricketer, who finished as India's leading run-scorer in T20 internationals during 2026, is primed to partner former captain Rohit Sharma at the top of the order. Kishan carries proven pedigree as a 50-over opener, having previously scored a double century in this format. Moreover, with Rahul absent, Kishan will also shoulder wicketkeeping duties for Iyer's squad. Selection Contest for the Number Five Slot With Ishan slotting into the opening vacancy, a competitive selection battle has emerged for the number five position between Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Tilak Varma, who serves as the vice-captain in the T20 setup, has already featured in five T20 matches during the current tour and recently compiled a gritty half-century representing India A against New Zealand A in the third unofficial Test. On the other hand, Ruturaj Gaikwad offers proven middle-order credentials for the national team. Gaikwad's most recent ODI appearance occurred on October 3, 2026, against the West Indies at Mullanpur, where he produced a fluent fifty. Evaluating pitch conditions at the Bay Oval will be pivotal in determining which batter gets the nod. Senior Bowlers Positioned to Bolster the Attack The bowling department is also in line for significant restructuring. Two of the most experienced bowlers in the squad, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav, were left out of the starting lineup during the first three fixtures despite being fully fit and available. Following Kamboj's departure to Wellington, at least one of these two veterans is assured of an inclusion. Furthermore, if the team chooses to rest any of the active pacers, such as Aaqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, or Arshdeep Singh, both Siraj and Kuldeep could be deployed together. Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh has featured in all eight matches across formats on this tour, though rain prevented him from bowling in the third ODI at Hamilton on November 10. New Entrants Expected to Wait for Debut Caps Meanwhile, newly inducted squad members Kumar Kushagra and pacer Yash Thakur are unlikely to make their international debuts on Friday. With seasoned campaigners stepping back into the frame under fresh leadership, this fourth ODI at Mount Maunganui will serve as a definitive assessment of India's bench depth. India's Predicted Playing XI for the Fourth ODI Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Axar Patel, Aaqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj. What this means for you The tactical shuffle provides fans and selectors with a crucial look at India's depth ahead of the red-ball leg. • For Cricket Fans: Viewers will witness a different batting dynamic at the top without Gill and Rahul. Supporters tuning in on Friday morning will see Ishan Kishan opening alongside Rohit Sharma. • For Middle-Order Hopefuls: The fixture provides a career-defining opportunity for either Tilak Varma or Ruturaj Gaikwad at number five. A notable performance here could cement their standing for future one-day international assignments. • For Bowling Workload Management: Resting multi-format pacers ahead of the Test series allows younger bowlers to take center stage. This operational rotation stress-tests the squad's reserve pool against quality opposition. • For Captaincy Evaluation: Selectors will closely observe Shreyas Iyer's leadership abilities in 50-over cricket. A composed captaincy outing strengthens his profile as a dependable stand-in leader for the national side. Why this happened The sweeping changes in the squad are driven by tactical prioritization of the upcoming Test series and multi-format workload management. • Test Series Preparation: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Anshul Kamboj departed for Wellington to prepare for the two-match Test rubber beginning November 19. Transitioning from white-ball to red-ball cricket demands early acclimation to local conditions. • Pacer Workload Management: Fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has participated in all eight matches across formats on this tour. Rotating senior bowlers like Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav mitigates injury risks and distributes physical strain across the bowling attack. • Evaluating Squad Reserves: Heading into the final stretch of the bilateral series, team management intends to provide game time to bench players. This philosophy facilitates the return of Ishan Kishan and offers opportunities to middle-order contenders like Tilak Varma. Questions & Answers 1. When and where is the fourth ODI between India and New Zealand taking place? The match will be played on Friday, November 13, at the Bay Oval ground in Mount Maunganui. 2. Who will lead the Indian team in the fourth ODI? In the absence of regular captain Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer will captain the ODI side for the first time. 3. Why are Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, and Anshul Kamboj missing the match? They have departed for Wellington to prepare for the two-match Test series against New Zealand starting on November 19. 4. Who is slated to open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma? Dynamic left-hander Ishan Kishan is set to open the batting with Rohit Sharma. 5. Who will perform wicketkeeping duties in place of KL Rahul? Ishan Kishan will take over the wicketkeeping responsibilities for the side. 6. Which players are contending for the number five batting spot? Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad are competing for the number five position in the batting lineup. 7. Which players were drafted into the Indian squad for the final two ODIs? The selectors added Tilak Varma, Kumar Kushagra, and Yash Thakur to the touring squad. 8. Which senior bowlers are likely to return to the playing eleven? Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj and wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav are positioned to make their return to the active lineup. https://trendkia.com/en/cricket/be-ovala-vanade-men-shreyas-iyer-ke-hathon-men-kamana-tina-bare-sitare-bahara-ishan-aura-siraj-ki-entri-taya-59099 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.