History unfolded under the lights at Visakhapatnam’s ACA-VDCA Stadium in the fourth T20I, where New Zealand’s openers Devon Conway and Tim Seifert propelled their team to a landmark 100 runs in an astonishing 8.1 overs against India – the fastest ever on Indian soil in T20 cricket.
Conway departed after a fiery 44 from 23 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes), but not before partnering Seifert for a 100-run blitz in 8.2 overs. Seifert’s 62 off 36 (7 fours, 3 sixes) showcased composure amid chaos, etching this as NZ’s quickest century vs India and the joint second overall in T20Is against them.
The last such opening ton for New Zealand came in 2022, with Conway and Finn Allen’s 117 against Pakistan. Santner’s squad: Seifert (wk), Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Zach Foulkes (replacing Jamieson), Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.
India’s Suryakumar Yadav handed spots to Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (keeper), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh (in for injured Ishan Kishan), and Jasprit Bumrah.
This explosive passage has energized New Zealand while challenging India’s depth. In a series defined by bold strokes, the Kiwis have raised the bar, forcing the hosts to respond with equal fire. Expect boundaries to flow as the game intensifies.