Henry takes six as India are bowled out for 89 in fourth ODI

Matt Henry took 6-27 as New Zealand bowled India out for 89 to win the fourth one-day international by 244 runs at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Friday. India were chasing 334 after New Zealand made 333, and were dismissed in 26.4 overs. They still lead the five-match series 2-1 going into Sunday's decider.

Henry's full figures were 9.4-2-27-6. The Times of India reported that India lost Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer without scoring by the end of the opening over. It was India's second-heaviest defeat in ODI cricket.

Gambhir: this is not a one-off

Head coach Gautam Gambhir made no attempt to play the result down. The ICC's website reported that he wants his batters to adapt better, mentally and technically, before the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup.

“There's no benefit to sweeping it under the carpet,” Gambhir said in his post-match press conference. He pointed to the second ODI, when India slipped to 111 for 7 while chasing 135 in a rain-affected match, and went on to win by the DLS method.

Gambhir said the speed of the collapse worried him more than the margin. He also rejected the idea that New Zealand's seamers had found unusual movement. “There are no unplayable deliveries in international cricket,” he said.

Chopra backs the criticism

Former India opener Aakash Chopra, speaking on ESPNcricinfo, said the batters needed to show more application rather than give in to good bowling, according to the Times of India.

Chopra said Henry had looked less threatening in the T20Is, but became much harder to face in the 50-over game, with two new balls in use and some help from the surface.

Tests next, with squad changes

Attention now turns to a two-match Test series. The first Test begins on November 19 at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, and the second starts on November 27 in Christchurch, according to Cricbuzz.

The Times of India reported that Jasprit Bumrah returns for the Tests. He missed India's series-winning tour of Sri Lanka in August with a knee injury. New Zealand batter Will Young said Bumrah would pose a unique challenge but backed the hosts' bowlers to test India too. Both sides are chasing a place in the World Test Championship final.

The BCCI announced on Saturday that fast bowler Gurnoor Brar has been added to the Test squad. He will join up in Wellington and miss the fifth ODI, and India will not name a replacement. Kuldeep Yadav has been released from the Test squad and will return to India for domestic cricket after Sunday's match.

Cricbuzz also reported that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has joined the Test squad in Wellington.

The question for Gambhir's side is whether they can fix their top-order problems before the Tests begin.