India lose fourth T20I to New Zealand by 87 runs at Eden Park after Phillips' 49-ball century

India suffered a heavy 87-run defeat to New Zealand in the fourth T20 International at Eden Park in Auckland. Batting first, New Zealand scored 259 for 7 in 20 overs, the highest total any team has made against India in T20 Internationals.

Glenn Phillips was the star of the New Zealand innings, hitting a blazing 107 off 49 balls with six fours and ten sixes. Michael Bracewell contributed 65 and Finn Allen 31.

India made a poor start to the chase of 260, losing two wickets in the first over. Sanju Samson was out for four and Ishan Kishan failed to open his account. Abhishek Sharma then fell for 27. Captain Shreyas Iyer scored 22 off 11 balls, while Axar Patel was dismissed for 7 and Nitish Kumar Reddy for 21.

Tilak Varma top-scored for India with 35. Naman Dhir added 28 and Prince Yadav 18, but the innings could not take the team close to victory. The Indian batters looked helpless against the New Zealand bowlers, and the side managed only 172 for 9 in 20 overs. Jacob Duffy took the most wickets for New Zealand, while captain Mitchell Santner and Matthew Fisher took two each.

By margin of runs, this is India's second-biggest defeat in T20 Internationals. The biggest also came under Iyer's captaincy, earlier this year. In 2026, England beat India by 125 runs in Nottingham. In that match England made 201 for 7, and India's batting collapsed, the side being bowled out for 76 in 11.4 overs.

The Auckland defeat of 87 runs now ranks second on this list. Third is the 2019 loss, when New Zealand beat India by 80 runs in Wellington. Also in 2026, South Africa beat India by 76 runs in Ahmedabad.

The fifth T20 of the series will be played in Hamilton on Sunday.