Blistering boundaries and towering sixes lit up Visakhapatnam as New Zealand achieved the unthinkable in the fourth T20I against India. At the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, the visitors raced to 100 runs in only 8.1 overs, eclipsing all previous records for the fastest team century versus India in home T20Is.
Openers Devon Conway (44 off 23, 4×4, 3×6) and Tim Seifert (62 off 36, 7×4, 3×6) dismantled the Indian bowling attack with ruthless precision. Their 100-run stand in 8.2 overs is New Zealand’s swiftest against India and jointly the second-quickest in T20 history against the hosts.
This marks the Kiwis’ first opening century partnership since Conway’s exploits with Finn Allen (117 runs in 13.3 overs) against Pakistan back in October 2022. Mitchell Santner led a side with Tim Seifert as keeper, featuring Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, debutant-like energy from Zach Foulkes (in for Kyle Jamieson), Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, and Jacob Duffy.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav’s India boasted Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah. The toss revelation: Ishan Kishan out with a slight injury, Arshdeep stepping up.
New Zealand’s aggressive blueprint has shifted momentum dramatically. As India recalibrates, the stadium pulses with anticipation for what promises to be a run-feast. Such performances highlight T20’s evolution into a batsman’s paradise.