New Zealand started the India tour with a great opening partnership in the three-match ODI series opener, where both the Blackcaps' openers scored half-centuries, but the Indian pacer Harshit Rana dismissed both the set openers brilliantly in his fruitful middle overs spell.

Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara is hosting the ODI series opener on Sunday (January 11), where the hosts India chose to field first after winning the toss. 

New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Henry Nicholls set a strong partnership after getting some lives. They set a 117-run partnership for the first wicket, which was New Zealand's second-highest ODI partnership for the first wicket against India in India. Both openers completed their half-centuries in the 20th over. 

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Harshit Rana dismissed Henry Nicholls with slower

In the 22nd over, while Harshit Rana returned for a new spell, he was punished for two back-to-back fours by Nicholls before Rana's change of pace did the trick for the hosts to pick up a key wicket. After conceding two consecutive fours, Rana delivered a full wide slower with the pace around 113 kmph, and Nicholls, surprised, went for a shot that travelled low to the keeper KL Rahul, who dived to take a good catch to bring that wicket for the hosts.  

Harshit Rana bowled Devon Conway with faster

In his next over, Rana's pace change brought another wicket with the set opener Conway, and this time the wicket came with the pace of 140+ kmph. In that over, the right-arm fast bowler continuously tested the opposition batters with his pace and slower deliveries. After delivering a slower ball, Rana ended that over with a 140+ kmph, where Conway had an inside edge that dragged on the leg stump to uproot the bails.

While Nicholls was out for 62 off 69 balls with eight fours, Conway was dismissed for 56 off 67 balls with six fours and one six.  

One brings two for Harshit Rana and #TeamIndia!

New Zealand lose both their openers.

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/OcIPHEpvjr#INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/gSzvDD40XU

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 11, 2026

Daryl Mitchell has been ruled out of the ongoing ODI series against the West Indies after he picked up a groin strain while celebrating his match-winning century in Christchurch.

The New Zealand all-rounder will miss the rest of the series because of the injury. Mitchell played a key role in New Zealand’s close seven-run win in the first ODI, scoring 119 runs off 118 balls. He is staying in Christchurch for a medical check-up to decide if he can return for the remaining three matches.

“Mitchell felt discomfort in his thigh while scoring his seventh ODI century during yesterday’s win over the West Indies at Hagley Oval. He did not return for the second innings. He will undergo a scan this morning to see if he can play the rest of the ODI series,” New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said in a statement on Monday, November 17.

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Nicholls Replaces Injured Mitchell

In Daryl Mitchell’s place, left-hander Henry Nicholls has been called up for Wednesday’s second ODI in Napier. Nicholls last played an ODI in early April and is currently leading the Ford Trophy with 306 runs at an excellent average of 76.50, including two back-to-back centuries against Otago and Auckland.

Squad Update | Daryl Mitchell will not travel to Napier with the squad and will instead undergo a scan on his left groin in Christchurch this morning. Henry Nicholls has been called into the squad as cover and will join the squad in Napier this afternoon 🏏…

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 16, 2025

Mark Chapman is also in the squad as a backup batter. He has been in strong form, averaging 101.33 in four ODIs this year. Mitchell has been outstanding this season and was even named Series Player of the Year against England. “He’s a guy you want in a crisis,” captain Mitchell Santner said. “He played extremely well at the end, even with just one leg.”

New Zealand are also missing several key players due to injuries. Mohammad Abbas (ribs), Finn Allen (foot), Lockie Ferguson (hamstring), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O'Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin), and Ben Sears (hamstring) are all sidelined. Their absence has weakened New Zealand in both batting and bowling.

On the second day of the second and final Test match against the hosts Zimbabwe, New Zealand achieved the rarest feat in Test cricket during the run-galore day on the field.

After Zimbabwe were bundled out for just 125 runs on Brendan Taylor's international cricket return, Zimbabwe bowlers had a tough day on the second day of the Test match, where New Zealand ended the day on 601/3. Blackcaps batters added 427 runs on the second day, while three of their batters not only scored centuries but also slammed 150s. 

Henry Nicholls and Rachin Ravindra followed Devon Conway's 150 mark

Openers Devon Conway and Will Young had a 162-run partnership for the first wicket. Young scored 74 runs, and Conway continued his batting till 153 off 245 balls (18 fours) when he was bowled by Blessing Muzarabani. While the no.3 batter Jacob Duffy scored 36 runs, the next two batters completed 150s and remained not out at the stumps on the day. Henry Nicholls scored 150 not out off 245 balls (15 fours), and Rachin Ravindra scored 165 not out off just 139 balls (21 fours and 2 sixes). They have already set up a 256-run partnership for the unbroken fourth wicket. 

It was the only third time in Test cricket history when more than two batters recorded 150 or more runs in the same Test innings. In fact, it is the joint record, as previously, three batters hit 150 in the same Test innings only twice, once each by England and India. New Zealand rewrote the rarest record after more than 38 years. 

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Most 150s in the same Test innings

While it was recorded first time in Test cricket during the 1938 The Oval Test against Australia, three English batters with 150s were Leonard Hutton (364), Maurice Leyland (187), and Joe Hardstaff (169 not out).

It was recorded second time during the 1986 Kanpur Test against Sri Lanka, when Indian batters Sunil Gavaskar (176), Mohammad Azharuddin (199), and Kapil Dev (163) set the achievement.