Star India batter Shreyas Iyer was seen exchanging batting insights with New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell following the fourth T20I in Visakhapatnam, sparking interest despite Iyer not featuring in the match.

Iyer, who was drafted into the squad as a replacement for Tilak Varma for the opening three games, is yet to make an appearance in the ongoing T20I series. With Tilak still working his way back to full match fitness, the 31-year-old is set to remain with the Indian squad for the remainder of the series.

After New Zealand’s emphatic 50-run win in Vizag, Iyer was spotted in an earnest conversation with Mitchell near the boundary. The Kiwi star appeared to be offering technical inputs, particularly on batting stance and trigger movement, as the two discussed nuances of the game at length.

Currently the world’s No.1 ODI batter, Mitchell has enjoyed a prolific tour of India. He struck two centuries during the ODI leg, playing a pivotal role in New Zealand clinching their first-ever ODI series victory on Indian soil. The right-hander has seamlessly carried that form into the T20Is, scoring a brisk unbeaten 39 in the fourth match on Wednesday.

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New Zealand’s victory not only halted India’s march towards a clean sweep but also served as a confidence booster, with the hosts still leading the five-match series 3-1 heading into the final game.

Speaking after the match, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner credited his team’s aggressive start in the powerplay for laying the platform, while praising Daryl Mitchell for finishing the innings strongly. Santner also underlined the importance of early wickets and revealed that the series is being used as preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup, with some key players expected to return for the final fixture.

“The way we started in the powerplay was what India was doing to us. Especially after the last game, you don’t want guys to go into a shell. That set us up for a decent score. Daryl finished it beautifully and took us to a good total. We’re thinking about what we’re likely to face at the World Cup. Early wickets are crucial and make our job as spinners easier. We’ve got a couple of guys back for the last game, which is nice,” Santner said.

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