Why Finn Allen is Not Opening in NZ vs IND 4th ODI? Explained

The fourth ODI between New Zealand and India is underway at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Stand-in Indian captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and decided to bowl first. With India leading the five-match series 2-0 and New Zealand making six changes to their playing XI, fans were eager to see the NZ openers in 4th ODI vs India.

Tim Seifert and Will Young walked out to open the innings, while Finn Allen was moved down to number five. Known for his aggressive top-order batting, Allen's new position surprised many. His move has raised questions about one of the best cricket teams in the world, New Zealand's batting strategy and whether the team wants to use him differently against India's bowling attack. Here is why Finn Allen is not opening today.

Why Finn Allen is Not Opening Today?

The star cricketer, Finn Allen, is not opening today because New Zealand head coach Rob Walter wants to test him in a different role ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup. The explosive batter has been moved to number five to strengthen the middle order. The team management wants to use his power-hitting ability against spinners and other bowlers during the middle overs.

With senior batters Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips unavailable due to Test preparations, New Zealand need someone who can provide quick runs in the middle and death overs. Since Tim Seifert and Will Young are opening the innings, Allen gets an opportunity to adapt to a new role. This change also helps the team assess Finn Allen batting position in ODI cricket.

Finn Allen’s ODI Stats: Why a Shift to No. 5 Makes Sense

Before this series, Finn Allen had scored 582 runs in 22 ODIs (21 innings) at an average of 27.71 and a strike rate of 93.27. He had also scored five half-centuries, with a highest score of 96. Although he is known for his aggressive batting and big hitting, Allen has often struggled against swing and seam movement with the new ball, which has stopped him from converting good starts into big hundreds.

Moving him to number five will help him avoid facing the new ball and allow him to bat against an older ball when the field is spread. This position will also give him the freedom to use his T20 power-hitting skills, where he has a strike rate of 170.01, to attack spinners in the middle overs and score quick runs towards the end of the innings.