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India vs New Zealand, 1st T20I - As it happened...
India produced as clinical performance to beat New Zealand by 53 runs in their 1st T20I match.
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Farewell Ashish Nehra
The second match of the series will be played on Saturday (November 4) at Rajkot.
Shikhar Dhawan, who scored 80 off 52 balls with the help of 10 fours and two sixes, wins the man of the match award. And says that "he wants to stay fit and compete with the 25-year-olds". He is 28.
Virat Kohli praises India's performance today, and also hails Nehra's career.
"Very clinical performance with the whole team. I thought the wicket was damp but Rohit and Shikhar were outstanding. And with the ball as well, we were brilliant. The bowlers bowled where they should and the fielders backed it up. That catch by Hardik Pandya is one of the best I have seen... To have played 19 years is very hard for a fast bowler. I know how professional he's been and how hard he's worked. He deserved this kind of a farewell with the crowd cheering him. He can now spend time with his family, he's got a beautiful family. We'll stay in touch but we'll miss him and I wish him all the best," Kohli said.
Here's what Nehra said after the match: "I will miss all this. That's what you train for. One thing which will definitely be at peace will be my body. I said earlier that I can go a couple more years, but there can't be a better time to walk away. I must be the one bowler who sent down the last over most number of times for India. But those times were different; there was no pressure today. The game has changed a lot since I started playing. I played my first game here in 1997. The rules have changed and so many runs are being scored. But whatever happens, this team is here to stay. The future of Indian cricket is in safe hands for the next six-seven years."
After the lap of honour, Nehra touches the feet of Bishan Singh Bedi who was at the sidelines. His former team-mates Virender Sehwag and Aakash Chopra joined him too, hugging.
That's the last we see Nehra as a player. He will not be playing IPL.
The emphatic win is followed by a lap of honour from the Indian team with Ashish Nehra leading the brigade. Delhi boys Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan carry the retiring bowler on their shoulders.
Over 20 | New Zealand 149/8 (Mitchell Santner 27; Ish Sodhi 11)
Huge roar from the packed crowd as Ashish Nehra gets to bowl the final over of the match, and his career too. Two dot balls to Ish Sodhi, then a four. Sodhi lofts the ball over the mid-off fielder.
It's followed by a wide, then one leg-bye. A single off the short ball as Mitchell Santner tries to pull it.
A dot ball, and India win by 53 wins in Nehra's farewell match. Nehara ji's figures: 4-0-29-0.
Ball by ball: 0,0,4,1WD, 1LB,1,0
Over 19 | New Zealand 142/8 (Mitchell Santner 26; Ish Sodhi 7)
Jasprit Bumrah with the penultimate over of the match. And Mitchell Santner is taking on the Indian pacer. The left-handed bowler hits Bumrah for a four, which easily could have gone for a six. Then, he followed it up with a six, to end the over.
16 runs from the over. Bumrah's figures: 4-0-37-1
Ball by ball: 2,1,0,3,4,6
Over 18 | New Zealand 126/8 (Mitchell Santner 13; Ish Sodhi 4)
Mitchell Santner can certainly swing. The Kiwi tailender hits Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a four and six off successive balls.
11 runs from the over. But the match is as good as over for the visitors. They need another 77 runs from 12 balls.
Ball by ball: 0,4,6,0,0,1
Over 17 | New Zealand 115/8 (Mitchell Santner 1; Ish Sodhi 4)
Jasprit Bumrah returns for his third over. 10 runs from it. Tim Southee hits the third ball for a four, then gets out off the next ball.
Wicket: Tim Southee c MS Dhoni b Jasprit Bumrah 8(4)
Ish Sodhi is the new man. Kiwis need another 88 runs from 18 balls.
Ball by ball: 1WD,0,1,4,W,0,4
Over 16 | New Zealand 105/7 (Mitchell Santner 1; Tim Southee 4)
Yuzvendra Chahal on with his fourth and final over. One eventful over, featuring an MS Dhoni stumping, Ashish Nehra football trick, and a Tim Southee four off the last ball.
Tom Latham, who's batting with caution, finally get outs, stumped, off the third ball.
Wicket: Tom Latham st MS Dhoni b Yuzvendra Chahal 39(36)
Then, off the next ball, Nehra limits a leg bye to a single using his legs, and skipper Virat Kohli leads the applause.
The over, however, ends with a four thanks to a wild swing from Southee, which beat the slip fielder.
Ball by ball: 4,0,W,1LB,1,4
Over 15 | New Zealand 90/6 (Tom Latham 35; Mitchell Santner 0)
India continue to tighten the screw with brilliant fielding efforts. This time, skipper Virat Kohli produces a brilliant ground fielding to send back Henry Nicholls. It happened off the fourth ball of the over.
Wicket: Henry Nicholls run out (Virat Kohli) 6(7)
Five runs from Jasprit Bumrah's second over. He has so leaked 11 runs.
Ball by ball: 0,4,0,W,0,1
Over 14 | New Zealand 90/5 (Tom Latham 34; Henry Nicholls 2)
Yuzvendra Chahal on with his third over. Six runs from it -- four singles and a double.
Kiwis need another 113 runs from 36 balls.
Ball by ball: 1,1,1,W,1,W
Over 13 | New Zealand 84/5 (Tom Latham 30; Henry Nicholls 0)
Axar Patel takes a double in his final over to finish with figures of 4-0-20-2.
With asking rate increasing with each passing delivery, Tom Bruce tries to hit one out of the park, but ended up losing his wicket. Caught in the deep. That happened off the fourth ball.
Wicket: Tom Bruce c Rohit Sharma b Axar Patel 10(10).
New man Colin de Grandhomme also fails, holding out in the deep. This time, Shikhar Dhawan takes the catch. That happened off the last ball of the over.
Wicket: Colin de Grandhomme c Shikhar Dhawan b Axar Patel 0(1)
Four runs and two wickets.
Ball by ball: 1,1,1,W,1,W
Over 12 | New Zealand 80/3 (Tom Latham 27; Tom Bruce 9)
Yuzvendra Chahal returns for his second over, and gives away nine runs. A dot to start to Tom Latham to start the over, the Kiwi batsman hits the next ball for a six. A brilliantly timed pull shot. Three more singles from the remaining deliveries.
Ball by ball: 0,6,1,0,1,1
Over 11 | New Zealand 71/3 (Tom Latham 19; Tom Bruce 8)
Another tidy over from Axar Patel. Gives away six runs -- four singles and a double. He's brilliant so far. In his three overs, he has conceded only 16 runs.
Ball by ball: 0,1,1,1,2,1
Over 10 | New Zealand 65/3 (Tom Latham 15; Tom Bruce 6)
Hardik Pandya starts his bowling spell by taking the very important wicket of Kane Williamson, caught behind.
Wicket: Kane Williamson c MS Dhoni b Hardik Pandya 28(24)
But, Pandya leaks runs, 11 of those as the two Tom's -- Latham and Bruce hit a four each off the third and fifth balls respectively.
Ball by ball: W,1,4,1,4,1
Over 9 | New Zealand 54/2 (Kane Williamson 28; Tom Latham 10)
Axar Patel continues to bowl tidily. Gives away only six runs in his second over. Kiwis now need another 149 runs from 11 overs
Ball by ball: 0,1,1,1,2,1
Over 8 | New Zealand 48/2 (Kane Williamson 24; Tom Latham 8)
Ashish Nehra returns for his third over. Gives away ten runs. For the Kiwis, skipper Kane Williamson is playing really well. He has just hit Nehra for a four, off the third ball.
Ball by ball: 1,1,4,2,1,1
Over 7 | New Zealand 38/2 (Kane Williamson 16; Tom Latham 6)
Axar Patel starts his spell with a brilliant over. Four singles and one leg bye from it. New Zealand require another 165 runs from 13 overs.
Ball by ball: 0,1,1,1,1,1
Over 6 | New Zealand 33/2 (Kane Williamson 13; Tom Latham 5)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar on with his second over. Nine runs from it as Kane Williamson scoops the second ball for a six. Bhuvi does well to limit the damages though, conceding three singles off the remaining deliveries.
Ball by ball: 0,6,1,1,1,0
Over 5 | New Zealand 24/2 (Kane Williamson 5; Tom Latham 4)
Virat Kohli introduces Jasprit Bumrah, and six runs from the over. New Zealand needs another 179 runs from 15 overs.
Ball by ball: 1,0,4,0,1WD,0,0
Over 4 | New Zealand 18/2 (Kane Williamson 4; Tom Latham 0)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar rocks the Kiwis with one brilliant over. Three runs and a wicket, that of Colin Munro. Bowled.
Wicket: Colin Munro b Bhuvneshwar Kumar 7(8)
Tom Latham is the new man for New Zealand.
Ball by ball: 0,0,3,W,0,0
Over 3 | New Zealand 15/1 (Colin Munro 7; Kane Williamson 1)
Ashish Nehra on with his second over, and what an over. Eight runs from it, and a dropped catch from Hardik Pandya, who just took a blinder in the previous over.
Colin Munro lofts the first ball high, and Pandya runs backward and goes for the catch. But spills.
Ball by ball: 1,0,1,1NB,2,1WD,2,0
Over 2 | New Zealand 7/1 (Colin Munro 2; Kane Williamson 0)
Wonder catch from Hardik Pandya. Leaves everyone impressed. Martin Guptill hoists the third ball high and mighty, but Pandya covered some distance, running across long-on before taking a leap of faith and completed a stunning catch.
Wicket: Martin Guptill c Hardik Pandya b Yuzvendra Chahal 4(8)
Two runs from Chahal's over. Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson is the new man in the centre.
Ball by ball: 1,0,w,0,1,0,0
Over 1 | New Zealand 5/0 (Martin Guptill 4; Colin Munro 0)
One tidy over to start for retiring Ashish Nehra. One wide and three dot balls, then a four from the blade of Martin Guptil. Timed to perfection, and straight down the ground for the first four of the innings.
Nehra responds with a dot ball, then another dot to end the over. Five runs from it.
Ball by ball: 0,1w,0,0,4,0,0
The highlight of India innings was that record opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan.
During the innings break, Dhawan said: "Really enjoyed batting on this track. Played all my cricket here. Very thankful today that I got to score some runs for India at this venue. Feel this is a damp surface. At the same time, we scored runs. So was a bit confused. Our spinners will be handy here."
Over 20 | India 202/3 (Virat Kohli 26, MS Dhoni 7)
Well, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni give the finishing touches with some lusty hittings in Delhi.
A six to start the over with Kohli belting it over wide long-on. A single followed, then Dhoni hits the third ball for a huge six, into the crowd.
A single, then a double as Kohli survives a catch at long-off. A single to end the innings. 17 runs from the over. Tim Southee's figures: 4-0-44-0
Ball by ball: 6,1,6,1,2,1
Over 19 | India 185/3 (Virat Kohli 16, MS Dhoni 0)
Another six for Virat Kohli. He hits the second ball of the penultimate over deep mid-midwicket. 11 runs from it, as Rohit Sharma hits the fifth ball for a four.
Rohit, however, survived a review with the Kiwis claiming for a caught behind. Tough one even for the third umpire even with all the gadgets at his disposal. Not, it was reviewed again, then it returned as out. Nick. Wicket: Rohit c Latham b Boult 80(55)
With that Trent Boult's figures read: 4-0-49-1
Ball by ball: 0,6,1,0,4,W
Over 18 | India 174/2 (Rohit Sharma 76; Virat Kohli 9)
Skipper Virat Kohli takes no time to settle. In fact, he doesn't need one. Hit the second ball he faced for a six. The over, started with a four with Rohit finding a top-edge, produce 14 runs for India.
Ball by ball: 4,1B,6,1,1,1
Over 17 | India 160/2 (Rohit Sharma 71; Virat Kohli 0)
Ish Sodhi removes two Indian batsmen in three balls in one dream over. Two runs, two wickets. His figures: 4-0-25-2
First, he gets the better of Shikhar Dhawan. Caught behind: Dhawan c Latham b Ish Sodhi 80(52)
Two balls later, Sodhi-Latham combo does the trick, removing just arrived Hardik Pandya: Hardik Pandya c Latham b Ish Sodhi 0(2)
Skipper Virat Kohli is the new man for India.
Ball by ball: 0,W,0,W,1,1
Over 16 | India 158/0 (Rohit Sharma 70; Shikhar Dhawan 80)
Rohit Sharma starts the over with a six, over fine leg. Easy for him. His fourth six today. Shikhar Dhawan hits two more fours, off the third and four balls. 18 runs from it.
Ball by ball: 6,1,4,4,1,2
Over 15 | India 140/0 (Rohit Sharma 61; Shikhar Dhawan 71)
India's record opening stand in T20Is. Previous best was 136 Gautam Gambhir-Virender Sehwag against England in Durban, in 2007.
15 runs from the over as Rohit Sharma reaches his fifty with a six, off the second ball. It's followed by two fours. Mitchell Santner is bleeding runs. His figures: 4-0-30-0.
Ball by ball: 0,6,4,4,1,0
Over 14 | India 125/0 (Rohit Sharma 46; Shikhar Dhawan 71)
Shikhar Dhawan is on fire. Hits another six to end the over with a maximum. 11 runs from Tim Southee's third over. And the Kiwi seamer has so far leaked 27 runs.
Ball by ball: 1,1,1,1,1,6
Over 13 | India 114/0 (Rohit Sharma 43; Shikhar Dhawan 63)
Ish Shodhi finally leaks runs. 14 from his third over as Shikhar Dhawan increases the tempo. The over started with a six, over deep mid-wicket, then a four of the second ball. Brilliantly played sweep shot. A dot ball, then two singles and a double.
Ball by ball: 6,4,0,1,2,1
Over 12 | India 100/0 (Rohit Sharma 40; Shikhar Dhawan 52)
Six singles from the over as Mitchell Santner manages to keep quiet the Indian openers for one over, at least. India, meanwhile, reach 100.
Ball by ball: 1,1,1,1,1,1
Over 11 | India 94/0 (Rohit Sharma 37; Shikhar Dhawan 49)
Rude welcome for Colin Munro in Delhi by Rohit Sharma. 14 runs from the over, with a six and four off the second and fourth balls respectively.
Ball by ball: 1,6,1,1,4,1
Over 10 | India 80/0 (Rohit Sharma 25; Shikhar Dhawan 47)
One brilliant over from Ish Shodhi. Six singles, six runs.
Ball by ball: 1,1,1,1,1,1
Over 9 | India 74/0 (Rohit Sharma 22; Shikhar Dhawan 44)
One eventful over from Colin de Grandhomme. The Kiwi medium-pacer leaks 18 runs. A double off the first ball as Shikhar Dhawan plays a paddle scoop.
Three singles, then a no-ball four from a bye. Free hit, and Rohit Sharma hoists the ball high. No catch. Tim Southee did well to limit the run to a double.
Another no-ball, another high ball. And over ends with a cracking cover drive from Dhawan for a four.
Ball by ball: 2,1,1,1,5NB,2,2NB,4
Over 8 | India 56/0 (Rohit Sharma 18; Shikhar Dhawan 36)
One brilliant over from Ish Shodi. Only three runs from the Ludhiana-born leg-spinner.
Shikhar Dhawan takes a single off the first ball, then Rohit Sharma eats up two deliveries before picking up a single. Another single off the fifth ball.
Over 7 | India 53/0 (Rohit Sharma 17; Shikhar Dhawan 34)
Indian openers are riding on their lucks. Mitchell Santner dropped Shikhar Dhawan early in the innings, now Tim Southee gives the left-handed batsman another life. Yes, Rohit was lucky in the previous over.
Southee, one of the better fielders, drops a sitter at long-off, off the third ball.
Another 8-run over as Colin de Grandhomme gets his first over of the day. Seven runs from it.
Over 6 | India 46/0 (Rohit Sharma 16; Shikhar Dhawan 28)
Mitchell Santner returns for his second over. And another 8-run over for India. After a quiet start to the over, Rohit Sharma hits the last ball uppishly over the cover for a four.
Over 5 | India 38/0 (Rohit Sharma 11; Shikhar Dhawan 25)
Tim Southee on with his second over. Eight runs from it. A single off the first ball, then a wide. Dhawan hit the second legal delivery for a four. Two more singles followed. Dhawan is already on 25 off 19 balls.
Over 4 | India 30/0 (Rohit Sharma 9; Shikhar Dhawan 20)
Another productive over for India. Trent Boult continues with his second over. He leaks nine runs, with Dhawan hitting the Kiwi quick for two fours, off the third and fifth balls.
Over 3 | India 21/0 (Rohit Sharma 8; Shikhar Dhawan 12)
First six of the match from Rohit Sharma's blade. The right-handed batsman hit Tim Southee for the maximum, over deep third man. Eight runs from the over. Brisk start for India.
Over 2 | India 13/0 (Rohit Sharma 1; Shikhar Dhawan 8)
Trent Boult on with the second ball. 11 runs from it as Shikhar Dhawan hits back-to-back fours off the second and third balls. India opener, however, survived. Dropped off the fifth ball by Mitchell Santner at cover-point.
Over 1 | India 2/0 (Rohit Sharma 1; Shikhar Dhawan 0)
Mitchell Santner opens for the Kiwis with his left-arm spinner. Two runs from the first over.
Kohli talks about Nehra in the most glowing manner. Here's what he said at the toss: We would have bowled first as well, there is already a lot of dew on the field. The team that bowls better should win the game. Ashish Nehra is playing. He has been a great servant for Indian cricket. He's one of the smartest guys I have played with. A true gentleman. Always willing to help the young guys in the team. It's sad to see him go. Shreyas Iyer makes his debut at No. 4. We have got two spinners, three fast bowlers. Hardik and Axar will be the all-round options.
Here are the playing XIs:
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Shreyas Iyer, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Kane Williamson (c), Tom Bruce, Tom Latham (wk), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Ish Sodhi
New Zealand won the toss and opted to bowl first.
New Zealand likely XI: Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson (capt.), Colin Munro, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham (wk), Henry Nicholls, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi
And that brings us to the probable XI.
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (capt.), Dinesh Karthik, Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra, Yuzvendra Chahal
Another big talking point ahead of the match is Ashish Nehra's farewell. The left-seamer, despite not being an automatic choice in the XI, is sure to get his match today. In fact, the BCCI shared a video of Indian cricketers wishing Nehra all the best. Watch it here.
Meanwhile, here's when and where to watch the match
India are winless against New Zealand in the shortest format of the game. And the overwhelming question ahead of today's match is: Can India break the T20I duck against the Kiwis?
New Delhi: Openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan scored identical scores of 80s, then bowlers took over as India beat World number one Kiwis comprehensively at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, Delhi. (SCORECARD || MATCH REPORT)