New Zealand's formidable home record is on the line as India return to Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Friday, looking to seal a series victory that has eluded them since 2019. The hosts have won 11 successive ODI series at home since their 4-1 defeat to India, but a 2-0 deficit leaves Mitchell Santner's side fighting to keep the contest alive.

With the third ODI washed out in Hamilton, India need just one more win to clinch the five-match series.The 4th ODI will get underway at 7:30 am IST, with toss scheduled for 7 am. Sony Liv will provide live streaming of the match while TV coverage will be on Sony Sports Network.

For New Zealand, the challenge is as much about salvaging pride as it is about protecting their home record. For India, it is a chance to underline their dominance in the series and flaunt their bench strength in the absence of Shubman Gill and KL Rahul.But amid the larger stakes, Shreyas Iyer will have a personal examination to negotiate.

With Gill leaving for Test preparations, Iyer takes charge for the final two ODIs. His vulnerability against short-pitched bowling is no secret, and Kyle Jamieson exposed it in Wellington, dismissing him for 30 with a short delivery.

Now, as captain, Iyer will have to find answers with the bat while shouldering the responsibility of taking India over the line. HAPPY HUNTING GROUND?India have a favourable record at Bay Oval, having won two of their three previous ODIs at the venue.

Both victories came during their 2019 tour, when they beat New Zealand by 90 runs and seven wickets respectively. Their only defeat came in February 2020, when the hosts chased down India's 297-run target, reaching 300 for five in 47.1 overs to win by five wickets.The last ODI at the venue, played between New Zealand and England in October 2025, also offered a glimpse of the assistance available to fast bowlers.

New Zealand bowled England out for 223 in 35.2 overs, with Zakary Foulkes taking four wickets and Matt Henry claiming two. Harry Brook's 135 kept England in the contest, but the hosts chased down the target in just 36.4 overs, winning by four wickets.

The ongoing series has presented a considerably tougher batting challenge. Steep bounce and seam movement have made stroke-making difficult, with neither side crossing 200 in an innings across the two completed matches.

New Zealand were bowled out for 185 in the first ODI, before India chased a revised target of 143 in 22.4 overs, finishing at 143 for five in a rain-reduced 32-over contest. In Wellington, the hosts managed only 134, but India found themselves in trouble at 113 for seven in 26 overs while chasing 135 when rain intervened.

India won the contest by 4 runs via DLS method.TEAM NEWS: MAJOR CHANGES FOR BOTH TEAMS Can Shreyas Iyer fare better against the short ball? (AP Photo) Both teams will take the field with significantly altered combinations after several players departed to join their respective Test squads.For India, Gill, KL Rahul and Anshul Kamboj have left the ODI camp to begin preparations for the two-Test series, which starts on November 19. Iyer will captain the side, with Ishan Kishan named vice-captain and expected to take over wicketkeeping duties in Rahul's absence.Ishan is likely to open alongside Rohit Sharma, while Ruturaj Gaikwad could slot into the middle order at No.

4 or No. 5.

Virat Kohli and Iyer will be central to India's batting plans, while Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir provide additional options. Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar and Arshdeep Singh are among the pace options available, with Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav providing spin choices.Siraj will be hoping to get some game time before the Test series after having warmed the benches in the first three ODIs.New Zealand have lost several established batters to Test preparations.

Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls and Glenn Phillips have departed, along with all-rounder Nathan Smith. The hosts will also be without Lockie Ferguson, who has been ruled out of the final two ODIs with a calf injury, while Blair Tickner is unavailable for the fourth match owing to the mandatory concussion stand-down period.Finn Allen and Tim Seifert are expected to provide the firepower at the top, while Will Young, Nick Kelly, Mitch Hay and Dean Foxcroft will have important roles in a reshaped batting line-up.

Michael Bracewell and Santner will provide experience in the middle order. Matt Henry is expected to return after recovering from a head injury, while uncapped fast bowler Brett Randell has been called up for the final two matches and could make his international debut.MOUNT MAUNGANUI WEATHER AND PITCH REPORT Screengrab from AccuWeather After three matches affected by rain, Mount Maunganui offers a welcome change in conditions.

The latest forecast points towards partly cloudy skies, temperatures ranging between 12 and 22 degrees Celsius and little prospect of rain on Friday. A full 100-over contest is therefore on the cards.Bay Oval traditionally offers pace and bounce, with seamers likely to find some assistance early in the innings.

The recent struggles of both batting line-ups in New Zealand conditions also suggest that the new ball could be crucial. However, the surface can become easier for batting once players settle in, as New Zealand's successful chase against England last year demonstrated.PREDICTED PLAYING XIsIndia: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj.New Zealand: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert (wk), Will Young, Nick Kelly, Dean Foxcroft, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner (captain), Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Brett Randell.QUOTES CORNERTim Seifert on India's bowling attack:"To be honest, they all bowl very well, they all do something slightly different.

Having Arshdeep as a left-hander, I think it's crucial as well. But to be honest, they work well as a unit, they all do something different, but to their credit, they didn't miss much on those wickets in the last two games."Auqib Nabi on adapting to New Zealand conditions:"This is my first time bowling in New Zealand.

It is a little different here. Here, you have to depend more on the seam movement.

If you bowl scramble seam or hit the deck here, there is a chance to get more wickets."- Ends