Devon Conway

Devon Conway is not alien to the playing conditions of India. The opener has been a vital cog in Chennai Super Kings title win in 2023. The southpaw amassed 672 runs and was adjudged player of the match in the final against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. Conway is a classy and stylish top-order batter but he is equally good against spin because of his ability to play sweep shots. Conway already had established a steady name at the top of Test cricket for New Zealand and has now started to show his versatility in the ODIs and T20Is as well. There is something unassuming in the manner in which Conway goes about his batting. Conway has shown that he can expand his game for a batsman who seems to have limited range. Why will Conway be an asset for New Zealand? Many batsmen have the appetite to bat for long, and it is just about spending time in the middle. But with Conway, it is about runs and how he can get those and he also prefers to bat the distance, which will be crucial in India.

One-day memory: (138 against India In Hambantota, 2023)

Although New Zealand lost the match by 90 runs in a run-fest at Indore, Conway performed the dual role of taking New Zealand into the back half with wickets in hand and keeping the asking rate under control to perfection. Even when he was cramping, Conway kept slog-sweeping with abandon.

One more thing: Devon Conway has credited his success against spinners to the Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni. The former India captain warned him that playing sweep is not the only way to dictate the spinners, he should also learn to hit them with a more straight bat.