The ongoing India-West Indies white-ball series has largely been dominated by batters, leaving bowlers with limited opportunities to make an impact. However, the third T20I in Indore offered some relief, as low bounce and the absence of dew helped India defend a target of 224 runs. It was the first time in six matches across the ODI and T20I legs of the series that a target had not been successfully chased. With the fourth T20I scheduled in Hyderabad and the fifth in Bengaluru, bowlers will be hoping for more favourable conditions.

Hyderabad’s pitches have been re-soiled, which could make it important for batters to assess the surface before playing their shots. Moreover, five of the seven IPL 2026 matches at the venue were won by teams batting first, offering a possible shift from the chasing trend seen throughout this series. Among the bowlers, West Indies all-rounder Roston Chase has been a notable performer, conceding just 8.48 runs per over.

For India, Mayank Yadav’s progress has been encouraging, particularly after his recent injury concerns. Having featured in all three T20Is, the fast bowler delivered figures of 0/34 in the third match, complementing Arshdeep Singh’s impressive effort. India captain Shreyas Iyer will also look to secure his fifth consecutive T20I series victory as captain. His team can draw confidence from the familiarity several players have with Hyderabad.

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Vice-captain Tilak Varma knows the conditions well, while Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Nitish Kumar Reddy have gained experience at the venue through their associations with Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, Tilak admitted that the newly prepared pitch makes conditions difficult to predict. The venue has previously witnessed remarkable batting performances, including India’s record T20I total of 297 against Bangladesh in 2024.

With plenty of runs scored throughout the series, the Hyderabad contest could once again favour the batters. Ultimately, the toss, dew and ability to adapt quickly to the surface could prove decisive in determining which team gains the upper hand in the fourth T20I.

India

India are unlikely to make changes to their playing XI for the fourth T20I against West Indies, having secured a convincing 14-run victory in Indore. As a result, young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may have to wait for his opportunity.

Probable XI: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (c), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Reddy, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav

West Indies

The visitors may continue without Amir Jangoo, despite his impressive performances in the ODI series, as finding him a place in the current combination remains a challenge.

Probable XI: Shai Hope (c & wk), Kamil Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Keemo Paul, Shamar Springer, Roston Chase, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie