Terrific batting from Rinku Singh! The southpaw went berserk in the final over, smashing Daryl Mitchell for two sixes and as many fours. India fetched a total of 21 runs off the over. They have got a big total on the board. Even if there is dew in the second innings, the hosts could fancy their chances.

IND 238-7 (20)

Just six came off the over from Jacob Duffy! After a wide on the first delivery, Rinku Singh took a single to Arshdeep Singh, and Duffy made the most of the opportunity. He bowled four dot balls and conceded just one boundary.

IND 217-7 (19)

Kristian Clarke finally managed to get a wicket on his T20I debut. The slower ball did the trick for the Kiwi pacer. Axar Patel was outfoxed as he ended up finding the fielder at long-off. India continue to lose wickets; they are seven down.

Axar c Mitchell b Kristian Clarke 5(5)

IND 209-7 (17.5)

India have crossed the 200-run mark, thanks to brilliant batting from Rinku Singh towards the end of the innings. He pulled Kristian Clarke for a six over long leg before slamming a four towards the backward point region.

IND 208-6 (17.3)

That is a classical drive from Rinku Singh for four! A much-needed boundary for India. Kyle Jamieson pitched it up with mid-off inside the ring, and Rinku drove it powerfully between the fielder and the bowler.

IND 193-6 (16.2)

Big blow for India! Star hitter Hardik Pandya is gone! He has found the man at deep mid-wicket. It was a slower ball from Jacob Duffy, and Hardik pulled it well but failed to get the required elevation.

Hardik Pandya c Chapman b Jacob Duffy 25(16) 

IND 185-6 (15.4)

India have a superb scoring rate of 12.13, but their only concern is that they have lost five wickets so far. Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh are the batters in the middle, with Axar Patel being the only recognised batter left to come. If the hosts can add another 50 runs in the remaining five overs, it would be a challenging total for New Zealand.

IND 182-5 (15)

Shivam Dube has found a leading edge back to the bowler. He tried to work it on the leg side but failed to time it properly. Hardik Pandya, who is at the non-striker's end, is unhappy with the shot attempted by Dube.

Shivam Dube c and b Jamieson 9(4)

IND 166-5 (13.4)

Abhishek Sharma has found the fielder at long-on. His terrific innings comes to an end. The southpaw is out after scoring 84 runs off 35 balls. He smashed five fours and eight sixes during his knock.

Nineteen came off the over from Ish Sodhi as Abhishek slammed the spinner for a four and two sixes.

Abhishek Sharma c Jamieson b Ish Sodhi 84(35)

IND 149-4 (12)

Suryakumar Yadav departs after a really good cameo. He finds the man at long-on after failing to time a lofted shot. The India captain tried to go down the ground, but Tim Robinson took a brilliant diving catch to end the innings.

Suryakumar Yadav c Tim Robinson b Santner 32(22)

IND 126-3 (10.4)

While Abhishek Sharma is on fire, Suryakumar Yadav is also scoring at a healthy pace. The India captain has moved to 31 off 20 balls, with the help of four fours and a six. He is looking in fine touch tonight. Can he go on to score his long-awaited fifty?

IND 117-2 (10)

India crossed the 100-run mark in just 8.4 overs, getting there with a SIX from Abhishek Sharma over square leg. The southpaw is firing on all cylinders. New Zealand desperately need his wicket, or he could take the game far away from them.

IND 106-2 (9)

Abhishek Sharma has raced to his half-century in just 22 balls! Another crucial knock from the Indian opener. He was tested early by New Zealand bowler Jacob Duffy, but once he found his rhythm, there was no stopping him.

IND 89-2 (7.4)

A short ball from Ish Sodhi, and he also provided extra width to Abhishek Sharma. The Indian opener cut it away for four through backward point. With that shot, he moved to 36 off 17 balls.

IND 75-2 (6.5)

An expensive over from Kristian Clarke to cap off India's powerplay. 14 runs came off it. After Abhishek Sharma smashed his fourth SIX, captain Suryakumar Yadav too joined the party with a maximum over long leg.

IND 68-2 (6)

Another SIX from Abhishek Sharma! He smashed Kyle Jamieson over deep mid-wicket for his third biggie of the innings. Meanwhile, India crossed the mark of 50 runs quite quickly despite losing two early wickets. The surface has shown spongy bounce, and that has created a fair bit of trouble for the batters.

IND 54-2 (5)

Ishan Kishan is GONE! India are in a bit of trouble after losing two early wickets here. An off-cutter did the trick for Jacob Duffy. Kishan jumped out of his crease but smashed it straight into the hands of the fielder at cover after failing to time it properly.

IND 44-2 (4.1)

Ishan Kishan is GONE! India are in a bit of trouble after losing two early wickets here. An off-cutter did the trick for Jacob Duffy. Kishan jumped out of his crease but smashed it straight into the hands of the fielder at cover after failing to time it properly.

Ishan Kishan c Chapman b Jacob Duffy 8(5)

IND 27-2 (2.5)

A confident start for Ishan Kishan! The southpaw makes a return to international cricket with a classy boundary. It was pitched up, and Kishan lofted it down the ground for an easy four.

IND 22-1 (2)

Soft dismissal for Sanju Samson! He got off to a flying start but lost his wicket after handing an easy catch to the fielder at short mid-wicket. Kyle Jamieson, who got smashed for two fours in this over by the India opener, is fired up.

IND 18-1 (1.5)

It was turning out to be a brilliant first over from Jacob Duffy, but Abhishek Sharma spoiled it with a SIX on the final ball. It was pitched up, and the southpaw slammed it high down the ground for a boundary. Earlier in the over, Duffy had tested the India opener by cramping him for room.

IND 8-0 (1)

Jacob Duffy begins with a fuller delivery that had a hint of away swing after pitching on the middle stump. Sanju Samson got onto the back foot and defended it to the off-side. A dot ball starts the India vs New Zealand first T20I.

Both teams lined up for their respective national anthems. The visiting side, New Zealand, started with theirs, and hosts India followed. Just two minutes left for the action to unfold in Nagpur. Are you ready?

"The square was relayed in 2024 and this is the first T20I since. Looking at the numbers from the past, pretty low-scoring, not an easy surface to bat on. The grass covering all around the block is fantastic. It'll be quite low and quite slow. I don't think it'll be a really high-scoring affair. There are runs around with a good outfield and it'll come onto the bat just medium to slow pace, I think so. I don't think it's going to be easy from a seamer's point of view, just about nice straight lines and length," said Deep Dasgupta and Simon Doull.

"But the last time New Zealand were here, it actually turned quite a bit. Yes. I'm not going to see too much turn tonight. Maybe early while it's a bit damp, I think. It's not as firm as we usually see in T20I pitches. All these cracks are kind of wide. They're not thin those cracks. So with wider cracks, every time the ball lands on those cracks, chances are it'll do a little bit and the edges might start breaking. So it might be a high-scoring pitch like 220 to 230. I don't think that's the case," they added.

India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Robinson, Devon Conway(w), Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy.

"We were looking to bowl first because we felt there was dew around 8.30 during our practice. But we don't mind putting runs on the board and we have done well batting first. Shreyas, Harshit, Bishnoi and Kuldeep are the ones who are missing out," said India captain Suryakumar Yadav.

"We are going to bowl first. Looks like a pretty good wicket and looks pretty high-scoring. Last week was pretty special. Every team knows how hard it is to come to India and won but this is a fresh series and they are a tough team in home conditions. Great start for us in terms of prep for the World Cup. Three seamers. Clarke makes his debut, Jamieson and Duffy are playing as well," said New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner.

The coin lands in favour of returning New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner and he has opted to bowl first in this first T20I. Chasing will get easier on this track with dew playing a role in the second innings.

The ICC has rejected Bangladesh's request to shift its T20 World Cup matches out of India. The apex cricket body has given the side a 24-hour deadline to decide on its participation. Follow the live updates on the developments HERE 

Meanwhile, we are just five minutes away from the toss for the first India vs New Zealand T20I. Stay connected!

Next stop on the road to #T20WorldCup 2026
Charged and ready for the st T20I #TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/16HTcZWUIP

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 21, 2026

This match will also see the return of Ishan Kishan to India's Playing XI. With Tilak Varma ruled out of the first three matches, the wicketkeeper-batter is set to take the No. 3 position. This will be Kishan's first India game since November 2023.

India's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav put in a poor performance at the highest level last year. His numbers in T20Is in 2025 stand at a disappointing 218 runs in 19 innings at an average of 13.62, without a single half-century. He will aim to return to form, with just five games left to the T20 World Cup 2026.

India: Sanju Samson(w), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Ishan Kishan, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh.

New Zealand: Tim Robinson, Devon Conway(w), Rachin Ravindra, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner(c), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kristian Clarke, Zakary Foulkes.

Hello everyone, welcome to the live blog of the India vs New Zealand first T20I in Nagpur. This five-match series is a T20 World Cup dress rehearsal for both teams before they play the mega event, which is being hosted by India and Sri Lanka, starting February 7.