There’s a noticeable swagger about this Indian team right now, and as the fourth T20 International against New Zealand approaches, that confidence has become the defining—and increasingly viral—theme of the series. India may have already wrapped up the five-match contest by winning the first three games, but it’s not just the results that stand out. It’s the way they’ve gone about their cricket.

Under head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, India have played with fearless intent and remarkable clarity. This is a side that commits fully to its plans, executes sharply, and carries the belief that no chase is too steep and no situation beyond control. That mindset alone has forced opponents to rethink their strategies before the first ball is even bowled.

At the centre of India’s dominance is Abhishek Sharma. The young opener has batted with refreshing simplicity—see the ball, hit the ball, and hit it hard. His 84 off 35 balls in Nagpur and the blistering 68 off just 20 deliveries in Guwahati weren’t reckless cameos but calculated bursts of aggression. By the end of the first three overs, he has often taken the game away from the opposition, and that early damage has been invaluable.

Suryakumar Yadav’s return to form has added further momentum. After a quiet spell earlier in 2025, the captain has once again looked like the batter who can change a match in the space of two overs. His ability to find gaps where none appear continues to underline his importance to India’s T20 blueprint. Ishan Kishan’s confident comeback innings in Raipur only reinforced the depth and flexibility in India’s batting lineup.

What will likely please the Indian think-tank most, however, is the team’s balance. The middle order—featuring Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, and Hardik Pandya—has done its job efficiently without chasing the spotlight. With the ball, India have operated like a well-oiled unit. Jasprit Bumrah has led with control and intelligence, Arshdeep Singh has offered variety from the left arm, and the spinners have relied on discipline and awareness of conditions rather than extravagant tricks.

For New Zealand, the series has told a very different story. After a competitive ODI campaign, they have struggled to match India’s intensity in the T20 format. Glenn Phillips has shown fight, and captain Mitchell Santner has led by example, but T20 cricket is unforgiving. Any hesitation is quickly punished, and too many of New Zealand’s key players have gone missing at decisive moments.

As the action shifts to the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium for the fourth T20I, the match carries meaning beyond another result. For India, it’s about reinforcing a template ahead of a home World Cup—proving that this aggressive approach is a long-term philosophy, not a situational tactic. For New Zealand, it’s about finding answers, and fast.

Cricket has a way of humbling even the most confident teams, but right now, India look perfectly aligned with the demands of modern T20 cricket. And if confidence counts for anything—and it usually does—the message from this series is clear: India aren’t just winning, they’re making a statement.