Indian batters would be determined to put up a much-improved performance against the seaming ball with the series at stake in the fifth and final ODI against New Zealand on Sunday.
India currently lead the series 2-1 despite their second-heaviest loss in ODIs here on Friday as Matt Henry effectively sealed the game for his team with three wickets in his opening over.
The batters look to get better on pace-friendly surfaces as they expect similar conditions in the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, who had a forgettable captaincy debut, are yet to make an impact in the five-match series.
While Henry squared Rohit up with a beauty, Iyer was caught in the crease against a sharp incoming delivery.
For one format players like Rohit and Virat Kohli, the game is the final opportunity to enthrall the crowd on what is probably their last tour of New Zealand. Kohli too was clueless to Henry's magic on Friday night.
The team's collapse at 89 all out in 26.4 overs while chasing 334 did not go down well with head coach Gautam Gambhir.
"These are conditions which are going to be closest to what we might get during the World Cup. The bigger concern is not the runs. It's how quickly we got bundled out, around 26 or 27 overs. That is something which is always a concern," said Gambhir.
Captain Iyer said conditions changed drastically in favour of the bowlers in the second innings but there was a stark difference in the powerplay performance of pacers on either side.
As New Zealand reduced India to 9 for 4 in the sixth over, the Indian pacers were unable to make inroads in the powerplay. Gurnoor Brar went for runs and so did Auqib Nabi, though they scored couple of wickets each.
Playing his first game of the series, Kuldeep Yadav was taken to the cleaners by Will Young. Kuldeep, who hardly got game time on the tour, would be desperate to make an impact if he gets to play again.
Released from the Test squad, the left-arm wrist spinner would love to leave New Zealand shores with a performance of repute.
New Zealand also, find themselves in compulsion to win as they aim to draw the series.
Opener Tim Seifert may have revived his career with a fifty in the fourth ODI, while Young, who was dropped twice in the slip cordon, went on to make a fine hundred.
The Indian pacers will need to stop the openers from taking the game away from them in the first 10 overs. Uncapped player Brett Randell may get a game at the Bay Oval.
It has to be noted that the hosts have not lost a series at home in seven years and therefore will have plenty to play for against a wounded yet formidable opponent.
(With inputs from PTI)