Following an impressive batting display by Shikhar Dhawan (80) and Rohit Sharma (80), bowlers led India to a 53-run win in the first T20 international against New Zealand in Delhi on Wednesday.

Veteran pacer Ashish Nehra concluded his 18-year-long career, bowling the final over at his home ground Feroz Shah Kotla.

Advertisement

With the victory, India took a 1-0 lead in the three-T20I series.

WICKET! Jasprit Bumrah strikes again and takes the scalp of Tim Southee (8).

WICKET! Yuzvendra Chahal claims his second wicket. Tom Latham (39) goes down fighting. India are just three wickets away from victory.

Tom Latham (35*) is the last hope for New Zealand. The visitors are 95/6 with five overs to go.

WICKET! Axar Patel joins the celebration after claiming the scalp of Tom Bruce (10) and Colin de Grandhomme (0) in the 13th over.

After 10 overs, New Zealand are 65/3 with Tom Latham (17*) and Tom Bruce (6*) fighting for the wounded Kiwis.

WICKET! Hardik Pandya traps the big fish. Kane Williamson departs for 28 runs. He scored a four and a six in his 24-ball knock.

New Zealand seem under pressure as they struggle at 24/2 after first five overs. Captain Kane Williamson (5*) is carrying a lot of hopes tonight.

WICKET! The other opener Colin Munro also fails to deliver well in Delhi as he lost his wicket for seven runs. Bhuvneshwar Kumar claims his wicket in the fourth over.

WICKET! Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal strikes early and Martin Guptill loses his wicket for mere four runs in the second over.

Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan scored an 80-run knock each as India reached 202/3 in their allotted 20 overs at Feroz Shah Kotla Ground in Delhi.

Besides the openers, captain Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni chipped in with some fireworks at the small Delhi stadium. Kohli and Dhoni remained unbeaten for 26 and seven runs respectively. On his home ground, Kohli slammed three sixes while Dhoni scored a single six.

WICKET! India lose another wicket. Rohit Sharma goes back to pavilion after scoring 80 runs off 55 balls. He struck as many as six boundaries and four sixes to keep the Delhi crowd off their feet.

WICKET! India’s pinch-hitter Hardik Pandya departs for a duck this time. Spinner Ish Sodhi claimed his second wicket in Pandya.

WICKET! Shikhar Dhawan departs after scoring his T20I-best knock of 80 runs off 52 balls. India reach 158/1 in 16.2 overs. Dhawan scored 10 boundaries and two sixes before getting stumped on his home ground.

With a SIX, Rohit Sharma completes his half-ton off 41 balls. Rohit slammed three sixes and two boundaries in his 12th T20I fifty.

FIFTY! Shikhar Dhawan slams his third half-century in T20 international cricket. Entertaining his home crowd, Dhawan slammed seven boundaries in his 37-ball knock.

Ten overs gone! Shikhar Dhawan (47*) and Rohit Sharma (25) drive India to 80/0 in the first-half.

India starts well! After five overs, India reach 38/0 with Rohit Sharma (11*) and Shikhar Dhawan (25*) guiding the way.

Also read: Ashish Nehra ‘a great servant for Indian cricket’

New Zealand won the toss and opted to field first against India in the first T20 International match at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday.

The Delhi T20I will be the farewell game of the veteran pacer Ashish Nehra, who played international cricket for two decades.

Meanwhile, uncapped Shreyas Iyer is set to make his T20I debut in Delhi.

“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,” Indian skipper Virat Kohli said after the toss.

Revealing the Playing XI, Kohli added: “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.”

To exploit the Delhi’s damp pitch, New Zealand decided to play two spinners — Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner.

“It was a really good ODI series. Playing India in this part of the world is a stiff challenge. The boys are looking forward to it,” Blackcaps captain Kane Williamson said.

India Playing XI: 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 Playing XI: 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