IND vs NZ: The Men in Blue have mostly dominated this five-match series, winning it 4-1. However, the fourth match in Visakhapatnam showed some serious gaps in the team’s setup. These flaws could be a major problem when the 2026 T20 World Cup rolls around.
New Zealand’s 50-run win was a wake-up call, highlighting issues that have cropped up just months before India and Sri Lanka host the big event. The team management needs to fix these problems fast to keep the trophy at home.
IND vs NZ: 3 Big Worries for India Ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup
1. A Top Order Inconsistency
Abhishek Sharma’s current form is a classic case of hit or miss. This kind of inconsistency is dangerous in a long tournament. During this series, the left-hander smashed two quick half-centuries but also got out for a golden duck twice.
This puts the middle order in a tough spot way too early. In the fourth T20I, India slumped to 9 for 2 in the first two overs. That collapse left Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube scrambling to fix the mess under huge pressure. If the top order stays this shaky, world-class bowling attacks will pounce on it at the World Cup.
2. Leaky Bowling in the Powerplay
India’s bowlers are finding it hard to stop aggressive openers on flat pitches. In Visakhapatnam, Tim Seifert and Devon Conway went after the Indian attack from the start, racking up 71 runs in the first six overs alone. The same thing followed in Thiruvananthapuram.
Giving away so many early runs puts a massive strain on the death bowlers. The bowling unit has to tighten up during the Powerplay. If they don’t find a way to keep things quiet early on, opponents will keep crossing the 200-run mark. That makes chasing nearly impossible on the big stage.
3. Injuries Piling Up
Injuries are hitting key all-rounders at the worst time, messing with the team’s balance. Washington Sundar is out for the rest of the series with a rib injury, and Tilak Varma is still working his way back from abdominal surgery.
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A team that depend on a few specific players is asking for trouble if these fitness issues persist. To actually win the World Cup, India need all their players fit.
