Playing cricket in India is one of the toughest challenges for any visiting team. The crowds are loud, the conditions are difficult, and the Indian bowlers are usually relentless at home. But today, Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls, the opening batsmen for New Zealand, made it look steady and composed.
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For the first time in a long while, the Black Caps enjoyed a dominant start away from home. Conway and Nicholls combined to put 117 runs on the board for the first wicket, completely frustrating the Indian attack. This wasn’t just a good start; it was a record-breaking one.
To find the last time New Zealand openers put up a 100-run stand away from home, you have to look back to the 2019 World Cup in Cardiff, when Martin Guptill and Colin Munro scored 137 against Sri Lanka. Furthermore, Indian pitches have been a fortress recently. This partnership was the first time any visiting team has managed a century opening stand against India in India since March 2023, when Australia’s Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh did it in Vizag.
The impressive stand finally ended when the score reached 117, breaking the resistance. However, the job was largely done. By soaking up the pressure and seeing off the new ball, Conway and Nicholls gave New Zealand the perfect platform. They laid a solid foundation, allowing the batters coming in next to play with freedom and power the team to a strong total.
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