Key Points

  1. New Zealand pacer Blair Tickner says his side still backs its skills to dismiss Virat Kohli despite the Indian batter's match-winning knock in the first ODI.
  2. New Zealand were bowled out for 185 and lost the rain-affected opener by five wickets via DLS, and Tickner admits the tourists did not score enough runs.
  3. New Zealand must also cover for concussed opener Devon Conway, with Nick Kelly coming in, while Tickner expects helpful conditions for bowlers at the second ODI venue.

Tickner's Confidence and New Zealand's Task in the Second ODI

New Zealand fast bowler Blair Tickner has backed his side to find a way past Virat Kohli in the second one-day international on Saturday, describing the challenge of bowling to the Indian star as an "awesome opportunity" rather than a burden. Kohli's unbeaten, match-winning contribution in the series opener underlined how quickly he can take a modest chase away from the bowling side, and Tickner acknowledged that New Zealand's attack felt that pressure directly.

The first ODI was shortened by rain. New Zealand were dismissed for 185 in 40.2 overs, and India were set a revised target of 144 under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, which they reached in 22.4 overs for the loss of five wickets. Tickner was candid about the shortfall, saying the visitors would have liked more runs on the board and that both the batting and the bowling can improve.

New Zealand's planning for the second match has been complicated by the loss of opener Devon Conway, who suffered a concussion in what Tickner called a freak training-ground accident and will miss the rest of the series. Nick Kelly comes into the squad, and Tickner framed the change as another chance for a replacement to step up, pointing to the team's recent record of covering for absent players.

Tickner also expects the pitch at the second venue to offer bowlers more than a flat, high-scoring surface, hoping for extra bounce and movement. He added that the compressed international calendar, with quick turnarounds between matches and several players also preparing for Test cricket, is being managed carefully by the team's support staff.

What New Zealand Are Actually Up Against

This is a routine pre-match media appearance rather than a development that changes the series, but it does reveal how New Zealand are framing their task after going 1-0 down. Tickner's comments are less a tactical blueprint than a statement of intent: the tourists know they cannot simply contain Kohli, and they intend to keep attacking in search of wickets even if that carries risk.

Why Kohli's Knock Mattered More Than the Scorecard Suggests

India's revised target of 144 in 22.4 overs was modest, but the manner of the chase matters for New Zealand's planning. Tickner said Kohli came out and put pressure on the bowlers with a small total to defend, which is the harder scenario for an attack: there is little margin for a loose over, and a batter who scores quickly can end the contest early. New Zealand's stated approach — looking to take wickets rather than dry up the runs — is the logical response, but it is also the approach that gives a player of Kohli's quality scoring opportunities.

Conway's Absence Is the Bigger Structural Problem

The loss of Devon Conway to a concussion is the most consequential piece of news in the article. Conway has been a major performer for New Zealand, and his absence removes a settled top-order option for the remainder of the series. Tickner's point that replacements have consistently performed well is a genuine strength of New Zealand's squad depth in recent years, but depth is easier to rely on over a long home season than in a short away series against India. Nick Kelly now has an immediate opportunity, and how the top order absorbs Conway's absence will shape whether New Zealand can post the totals their bowlers need.

Conditions and the Schedule Are Working Against the Batters

Tickner expects the second ODI pitch to offer bounce and seam movement, based on what he saw there last year against England, and he was explicit that he does not want a 400-versus-400 game. If that assessment is right, the match may be lower-scoring than the modern ODI norm, which would help a New Zealand side that struggled for runs in the opener. The compressed schedule — late finishes, limited recovery time, and several players transitioning towards Test cricket — adds a physical load that both teams must manage, and it can affect how aggressively captains use their fast bowlers.

What This Means for the Series

New Zealand's path back into the series runs through two things: a top order that gives the bowlers a competitive total, and an attack disciplined enough to keep Kohli from settling. Neither is guaranteed. India, for their part, have the advantage of a winning start and a batting line-up that has already shown it can chase a reduced target comfortably. The second ODI will indicate whether the opener was a case of New Zealand being short of runs on the day, or a wider gap between the sides.