New Zealand outclassed India by 80 runs in the first T20 International at Westpac Stadium to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The home team was earlier routed 4-1 in the five-match One Day International series. After being asked to bat, New Zealand rode on an 84-run knock by Tim Seifert to post 219 for six in their allotted 20 overs in Wellington. Tim Southee claimed three wickets as New Zealand bowled out India for 139 in 19.2 overs. MS Dhoni top-scored for India with 39 runs off 31 balls. Seifert, whose previous best score in T20 Internationals happens to be 14, was promoted to open alongside Colin Munro (34 off 20 balls) and they added 86 runs in only 8.2 overs in a whirlwind start. Seifert's knock had seven fours and half a dozen of sixes, setting the tone for a big total. While regular skipper Virat Kohli is getting some rest, the Rohit Sharma-led squad is aiming for a maiden T20 International series win in New Zealand, following a record 4-1 result in ODIs and a historic tour of Australia.
Highlights Between India vs New Zealand 1st T20, straight from Wellington.
15:52 IST: That brings an end to the first T20 International between India and New Zealand. Thank you for joining us for the live coverage.
15:46 IST: WICKET! Yuzvendra Chahal departs for 1. New Zealand thrash India by 80 runs. MS Dhoni top-scored for India, while Tim Southee led the bowling attack for New Zealand with three wickets.
15:44 IST: Khaleel Ahmed comes to the crease.
15:43 IST: WICKET! Big wicket for India. MS Dhoni departs for 39. Tim Southee claims his third wicket. The tailenders will look to survive the last over.
15:42 IST: FOUR! MS Dhoni comes plays it down the ground for a boundary. India are still 84 runs away from the target.
15:40 IST: Yuzvendra Chahal comes to the crease.
15:39 IST: WICKET! Lockie Ferguson strikes again to get Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The tailender departs for 1 run. India are 132/8 in 17.5 overs with MS Dhoni unbeaten at the other end.
15:37 IST: Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes to the crease.
15:36 IST: WICKET! Tim Southee claims his second wicket, dismisses Krunal Pandya for 20 runs. That brings an end to the 52-run partnership for the seventh-wicket.
15:34 IST: FOUR! MS Dhoni continues to fight for India, smashes a boundary to complete the fifty-run stand with Krunal Pandya.
15:30 IST: End of the over! Just five runs from the over by Lockie Ferguson. India are 118/6 in 16 overs.
15:27 IST: FOUR! Cheeky. Inside edge but MS Dhoni is safe. The lucky batsman gets some quick runs for his team.
15:25 IST: Lockie Ferguson comes back into the attack.
15:24 IST: SIX! He has got the power to guide the ball neatly over the fence to conclude the 15th over. India are 113/6, need 107 runs to win.
15:22 IST: FOUR! 100 up for India in 14.3 overs. Sloppy fielding from New Zealand gifts India a boundary.
15:20 IST: SIX! That's massive. MS Dhoni is now taking the charge of the game. He lofts it over the long on for maximum.
15:14 IST: FOUR! MS Dhoni punches it down the ground for a boundary. It takes India to 81/6 in 11.2 overs.
15:12 IST: Krunal Pandya comes to the crease following the dismissal of his brother Hardik.
15:11 IST: WICKET! Ish Sodhi claims his second wicket in his first over. Hardik Pandya departs for four. It seems MS Dhoni is running short of a partner at the moment.
15:09 IST: Hardik Pandya comes to the crease.
15:08 IST: WICKET! Ish Sodhi strikes soon after his arrival as Tim South takes a remarkable catch. Dinesh Karthik departs for five runs, leave India in trouble at 72/5 in 10.2 overs.
15:07 IST: Ish Sodhi comes into the attack.
15:06 IST: End of 10 overs! Daryl Mitchell concedes seven runs. India reach 72/4, 148 runs away from the tough target.
15:00 IST: Dinesh Karthik comes to the crease.
14:59 IST: WICKET! Mitchell Snatner claims his second wicket as Vijay Shankar holes out to Colin de Grandhomme. He departs for 27, leaves India reeling at 65/4 in 8.4 overs.
14:57 IST: MS Dhoni comes to the crease.
14:56 IST: WICKET! Mitchell Santner castles Rishabh Pant for four.
14:55 IST: Daryl Mitchell is deceiving Vijay Shankar and Rishabh Pant with his pace at the moment. With the help of a few slow balls, Mitchell restricts India to 64/2 in eight overs.
14:47 IST: SIX! That's huge. Vijay Shankar smashes it over the deep mid-wicket for maximum.
14:46 IST: End of the over! A wicket and seven runs from the over by Lockie Ferguson. India are 53/2 in 6 overs.
14:44 IST: Rishabh Pant comes to the crease.
14:42 IST: WICKET! A fiery yorker does its work. Lockie Ferguson claims a big wicket, helps New Zealand get rid of Indian openers early. India lose Shikhar Dhawan (29) after crossing fifty-mark.
14:40 IST: SIX! Not a bad delivery by Scott Kuggeleijn. Too impressive batting by young Vijay Shankar. He picks it up over the long off for a clean hit and takes India to 45/1 in 4.5 overs.
14:39 IST: FOUR! Vijay Shankar plays it with straight bat, lofts the ball over the mid-wicket for a boundary.
14:37 IST: FOUR! Vijay Shankar gets off to the mark after five deliveries, but with a confident one-bounce boundary at long off.
14:34 IST: SIX! Shikhar Dhawan lifts it over the deep mid-wicket for maximum. The six takes India to 27 for one in 3.4 overs.
14:33 IST: A huge appeal for LBW against Vijay Shankar falls on deaf ears. Shankar takes a quick single to give Shikhar Dhawan the strike.
14:31 IST: End of an outstanding over by Tim Southee. A wicket and just one run from it. India are 19/1 in three overs.
14:28 IST: Vijay Shankar comes to bat at number three.
14:27 IST: WICKET! A big wicket for New Zealand. India skipper Rohit Sharma departs for one. Tim Southee gives the home team an early breakthrough as Lockie Ferguson takes an impressive diving catch.
14:25 IST: End of the over! 16 runs from the over by Scott Kuggeleijn.
14:24 IST: FOUR! Third consecutive boundary for Shikhar Dhawan and India. He deflects it to the fine leg for a boundary.
14:23 IST: SIX! Back-to-back sixes by Shikhar Dhawan gives India an early boost.
14:20 IST: End of the over! India are one without loss after the first over.
14:16 IST: Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are out in the middle to start India's chase. Tim Southee to open the attack for New Zealand.
14:06 IST: FOUR! New Zealand post 219/6 in 20 overs. Mitchell Santner helps the home team end their innings with an imposing boundary.
14:05 IST: FOUR! A powerful shot by Scott Kuggeleijn. It takes New Zealand to 214/6 with two balls to go.
14:02 IST: SIX! A huge hit to conclude the second last over. An expensive over by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. 17 runs off it. New Zealand reach 207 for six in 19 overs.
14:00 IST: FOUR! Clever from Scott Kuggeleijn. It brings up 100 for New Zealand.
13:59 IST: FOUR! Scott Kuggeleijn deflects it to the third man for a boundary.
13:56 IST: WICKET! Bhuvneshwar Kumar claims his first wicket, removes Ross Taylor for 23.
13:54 IST: WICKET! Substitute fielder Mohammed Siraj takes a stunning catch to dismiss Colin de Grandhomme for three. Second wicket for Hardik Pandya. New Zealand are 189/5 in 18.5 overs.
13:51 IST: SIX! Ross Taylor continues to trouble Indian bowlers. He slogs it away to the deep mid-wicket for maximum.
13:49 IST: End of the over! 11 runs from the over by Bhuvneshwar Kumar. He might bowl the last over for India. New Zealand are 180/4 in 17 overs.
13:47 IST: SIX! Exquisite. Ross Taylor plays it with fast hands, picks it up over the point region for a six.
13:46 IST: 2 runs. In the air... but lands safely. Ross Taylor picks up a double.
13:42 IST: Colin de Grandhomme comes to the crease.
13:40 IST: WICKET! Yuzvendra Chahal claims his first wicket. Skipper Kane Williamson departs for 34, leaves New Zealand on 164/4 in 15.1 overs.
13:39 IST: Ross Taylor comes to the crease.
13:38 IST: WICKET! Incredible catch taken by Dinesh Karthik. Hardik Pandya claims his first wicket. Daryl Mitchell departs for eight on his debut.
13:35 IST: SIX! Consecutive sixes by Kane Williamson. This time a switch hit gets him quick runs.
13:33 IST: SIX! Kane Williamson predicts the short delivery and smashes it over the fence at deep backward square leg for maximum. It brings up 100 for New Zealand.
13:30 IST: Excellent fielding by Krunal Pandya. Saves two runs for his team. New Zealand are 146/2 with six overs remaining in the match.
13:27 IST: FOUR! Daryl Mitchell gets off to the mark with a straight down-the-ground boundary. It takes New Zealand to 138/2 in 13 overs.
13:25 IST: Daryl Mitchell comes to bat at number four.
13:24 IST: WICKET! Khaleel Ahmed castles Tim Seifert for 84. It's a big wicket for young Khaleel. He bowled a perfect yorker to dismantle the stumps and disrupt New Zealand's momentum.
13:22 IST: SIX! Kane Williamson joins the party. He picks up a poor delivery by Khaleel Ahmed over deep mid-wicket for maximum.
13:21 IST: SIX! What an incredible way to end the over. Tim Seifert sweeps it over the deep square leg to get the maximum for his team.
13:20 IST: FOUR! Tim Seifert smashes it through the extra cover for a boundary.
13:18 IST: Tim Seifert dropped by Dinesh Karthik. He was on 71. It wasn't an easy catch under lights though.
13:16 IST: SIX! Back-to-back sixes by Tim Seifert takes him to 70 and New Zealand to 110/1 in 10.4 overs.
13:12 IST: Four! Another reverse sweep by Tim Seifert and the ball sails through the fine leg for a boundary.
13:10 IST: Yuzvendra Chahal comes into the attack.
13:08 IST: Kane Williamson comes to the crease.
13:07 IST: WICKET! Krnual Pandya gives India a much-needed breakthrough, dismisses Colin Munro for 34. It was an enticing delivery by Krunal and Munro lifted it up to the long on, where Vijay Shankar made no mistake.
13:05 IST: FIFTY! Tim Seifert scores his maiden T20I half-century off 30 balls.
13:03 IST: SIX! Tim Seifert plays it even better. He picks it up over the backward square leg for a six. Gets maximum for the team and takes himself to 48.
13:02 IST: FOUR! Tim Seifert edged. But the ball goes past the slip region for a boundary.
12:59 IST: FOUR! Elegant shot. Tim Seifert plays a reverse sweep to get quick runs for the home team.
12:56 IST: FOUR! Tim Seifert slaps another slower delivery confidently and guides the ball across the cover at sweeper cover for four. It takes New Zealand to 64/0 in 5.4 overs.
12:55 IST: FOUR! Poor ball on the leg side by Hardik Pandya. Tim Seifert flicks it nicely, defeating the fielder at backward square leg, to get a boundary.
12:53 IST: Hardik Pandya comes into the attack.
12:52 IST: SIX! Not an easy shot to play. Tim Seifert sweeps it over the fine leg for an astonishing six.
12:50 IST: Krunal Pandya comes into the attack.
12:49 IST: End of the over! Khaleel Ahmed continues to be expensive for India. He concedes 16 runs in his second over. New Zealand are 44/0 in 4 overs.
12:46 IST: SIX! Colin Munro plays a cut shot and guides the ball to the square of the wicket to get maximum for the team. It takes New Zealand to 40/0 in 3.2 overs.
12:45 IST: SIX! Beautiful shot. Another slower ball picked up nicely. This time it's Colin Munro.
12:43 IST: FOUR! This time Tim Seifert plays it straight down the ground for a boundary. New Zealand are 28 without loss in 2.5 overs.
12:42 IST: SIX! Tim Seifert lifts the knuckle ball by Bhuvehwar Kumar nicely to guide the ball across the fence at long-on for maximum.
12:39 IST: An expensive over by Khaleel Ahmed concludes. Nine runs off it. New Zealand are 13 without loss in two overs.
12:37 IST: FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries take New Zealand to 12 without loss in 1.3 overs.
12:36 IST: FOUR! Colin Munro advances and lofts it over the extra cover to get a boundary.
12:35 IST: Khaleel Ahmed to bowl from the other end.
12:34 IST: End of the over! A good start for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, safe start for New Zealand. The hosts are four without loss after the first over.
12:30 IST: Colin Munro and Tim Seifert are out in the middle to start New Zealand proceedings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar to open the attack for India.
12:20 IST: "We were looking to have a bowl, based on the wicket on the other night. It's important to assess the conditions. Daryl Mitchell makes his debut today. Some regular faces, but the two missing out are Bracewell and Neesham. A new squad brings some freshness," Kane Williamson says at the toss.
12:14 IST: "We have had a good record chasing. Gives us another opportunity to see how well we can bat second. Looks like a good pitch, as we saw in the game earlier so we are looking to set a target," Rohit Sharma says after winning the toss.
12:09 IST: New Zealand Playing XI: Colin Munro, Tim Seifert (w), Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Daryl Mitchell, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson
12:05 IST: India Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Vijay Shankar, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (w), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, K Khaleel Ahmed
12:00 IST: Toss! India win toss, opt to bowl. Rishabh Pant and Krunal Pandya, who missed the ODI series, are back in the T20 International team.
11:50 IST: India's women cricket team lost their T20I series opener to New Zealand women by 23 runs in Wellington.
11:45 IST: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the first T20 International between India and New Zealand at Westpac Stadium.
Young wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant, who was not part of the ODIs, returns hungrier and has a big opportunity to stake a claim for a World Cup spot in the upcoming three T20s. Veteran MS Dhoni is back in the T20 mix after being omitted from the series against Australia last year and his performance will also be keenly followed.
He last played a T20 in July. Following the high of the Test series Down Under, another stellar showing might just convince the selectors to include Pant in the final-15. The series is also an opportunity for Dinesh Karthik, who has done well as a finisher but is still not a sure starter in the eleven.