Post-match reaction as India win by 6 wickets to level series 1-1: Kane Williamson doesn’t look for excuses with the toss, says the top order failed the team against an excellent opening spell by Bumrah and Bhuvi. The duo earn praise from their captain as well, who spoke about the confidence with the two of them are making plans and executing them on slow pitches, without much assistance. And not surprisingly, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the man of the match for his figures of 10-0-45-3.

And with that, it’s time for us to sign off. Thanks for following the action with us. And join for us the decider on Sunday in Kanpur!

A fine win for India: Looking back, Kohli must be thankful that Williamson won the toss and opted to bat in a must-win match for India. This team is at ease while chasing. As it turned out, early wickets cost New Zealand dearly and it’s hard to imagine any phase of play tonight where the Black Caps were ahead in the contest. Bhuvneshwar, Chahal starring with the ball, Dinesh Karthik, Shikhar Dhawan starring with the bat – a good team effort.

It’s all over, India win by six wickets and 24 balls to spare: And a fitting end to the match with an elegant on-the-up cover drive by Dinesh Karthik, who finishes on 64 off 92 balls. Has made a good case for persisting with him at No. 4. He walks back with MSD, with the former captain providing some late entertainment. A thoroughly dominating performance by India.

After 45 overs, India 225/4: MSD is providing some fine entertainment to the big crowd that’s come out to watch him bat. Hits boult for a four through square leg and then in the 44th over, hits back-to-back boundaries on either side off the wicket of Milne – loud cheers for the man, obviously.

WICKET, PANDYA IS OUT: Not to be for Hardik tonight, if he was looking to add an easy-ish fifty to his name. Premeditates a sweep shot and hits a full toss straight to short fine leg. India 207/4 (41 overs, need 21 to win)

And out walks, to a thunderous round of applause, Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

FIFTY FOR DINESH KARTHIK: Has DK done enough to get a long run at the No. 4 slot? It’s not been the prettiest of innings but he started with a fabulous cut shot for four and gets to his fifty in similar fashion. He’s fought hard. And deserves the applause. After 40 overs, INDIA: 204/3

After 38 overs, India 191/3 (40 runs required from 12 overs): First 4 overs after drinks gave 17 runs, fifth over after drinks 13 runs. Looks like Pandya has had enough waiting around. Pandya takes the attack to Southee – two brilliantly timed shots to the boundary for four on either side of the wicket. Matter of time now. Karthik meanwhile is rotating his way around to a solid 50.

DRINKS, INDIA 161/3 after 33 overs (70 runs required from 17 overs): While Karthik continues to play a steady hand, you wouldn’t have expected Pandya to do much of hanging around and rightly so. Takes on Santner, deposits a big hit over long on with that massive bat swing of his.

WICKET, DHAWAN IS GONE: Milne provides New Zealand the breakthrough. It was almost coming – Dhawan was bound to lost his patience at some point. After trying to break the shackles with a six after his 50, he falls to Milne, coming down the track and failing to clear cover. Falls for a well-made 68. After 30 overs, India 145/3 (86 runs required from 20 overs) \

Meanwhile: Not Kedar, not Dhoni - Pandya in next and walks out to a huge cheer.

After 25 overs, India 126/2 (Dhawan 55, Karthik 24): Halfway through the innings and India stay on track to make it 1-1. Williamson chopping and changing his bowlers but – while the runs have dried up – Dhawan and Karthik have not been troubled. DK breaks the shackles in the 24th over with a four past point.

FIFTY FOR DHAWAN: What started as a quick-fire knock has evolved into a patient innings, as Dhawan gets to his 22nd ODI fifty off 63 balls. Has played some fine strokes, and shown good restraint too after Kohli’s dismissal. After 23 overs, India 114/2 (117 runs required from 27 overs)

After 21 overs, INDIA 104/2 (127 runs required from 29 overs): With New Zealand needing wickets, and Boult coming back for an early second spell, no risks being taken by Dhawan and DK. Munro comes on to bowl his dibbly-dobblies in the 21st and Dhawan is given out off the very first ball, caught behind. But he reviews it right away and is vindicated.

Meanwhile, what’s your vote in this poll?

After 17 overs, INDIA 90/2 (141 runs required from 33 overs): Drinks in Pune, India still sitting pretty. Dhawan is into the 40s, poised to be the first batsman to score 50-plus. Just 7 runs in the last 3 overs after Kohli’s dismissal. No hurry for India though. Yet.

MEANWHILE: The musical chair for India’s No. 4 slot continues with Dinesh Karthik batting there today, after Kedar Jadhav at Wankhede:

WICKET, KOHLI GONE: A rare “failure” in a run-chase for Kohli. Chases a wide ball, edges to ‘keeper, and is gone for 29. Soft dismissal really, and that old foe of Kohli strikes again – will be disappointed at giving a wicket off that wide ball to de Grandhomme. DK is in at No. 4 today and starts with a four off the first ball. After 14 overs, INDIA: 83/2

50-partnership between Dhawan and Kohli: Run-a-ball stand between Kohli and Dhawan, as India cruise in Pune. After 13 overs, India 72/1 [Kohli 28, Dhawan 32]

After 11 overs, India 66/1 [Kohli 24, Dhawan 28]: Santner comes on to finish the powerplay and the Indian batsmen play it safe, rotating the strikes and taking 5 runs. Milne with the 11th and concedes just 2.

After 9 overs, India 59/1 [Kohli 22, Dhawan 25]: Kohli, Dhawan are in a hurry it looks like. Not quite Dhawan or Rohit, but Kohli joins in the big-hitting with a pull off Boult for six in the 8th over. Milne comes on in the 9th and concedes just 4 – a not-so-well-timed flick by Kohli through mid-on.

Oh, and a bizarre review in the 7th over by Southee – going up for a caught behind appeal when no one else was – Williamson reviews, Dhawan was not close to edging or gloving it.

After 7 overs, India 48/1: Kohli and Dhawan are playing close to their top gear. The leftie finds the third man boundary with an upper cut off Boult’s sixth. But the shot of the innings comes in the 7th as he pulls Southee over midwicket for a spectacular six. Kohli gets a boundary in that over too with a controlled pull shot.

5th over, India 28/1: 11 runs from Southee’s over but the big wicket of Rohit. Dhawan started with a boundary again and Kohli finishes the over in style with a push past mid-on – all class!

WICKET, ROHIT GOES EARLY AGAIN: There were signs in the previous over that Rohit was losing his shape, and this time, he flicks Southee straight to short midwicket, lack of footwork costing him again. Caught at the crease, falling over. India 22/1.

4th over, India 17/0: Once again, an over begins with a boundary. Dhawan flicks it past square leg, four easy runs. Boult comes back well and has Rohit chasing a wide one - signs of impatience?

3rd over, India 12/0: Almost like the first over from Southee, except the first ball was short and Rohit brings out the front-foot pull to good effect once again – almost flat bats it for a 6, gets a 4. 5 dot balls follow.

2nd over, India 8/0: The wrecker-in-chief from the previous match, Trent Boult goes for 8 in his first over. First ball, short and rising outside off – Dhawan cuts hard, edges it over slips for four. Rohit picks up three with a flick through midwicket with the shot that has often got him in trouble.

1st over, India 0/0: Tim Southee starts off with a maiden, bowling the probing line on the off-stump channel. Rohit, who seemed in a great rush at Wankhede, starts off patiently here – plays out a maiden.

India’s chase begins: Out walk Rohit and Shikhar. The target is 231.The last time India played here, they chased 350.

Some mid-innings reaction:

End of innings, New Zealand 230/9: The scorecard tells you a story – not even a single 50-plus score. Bhuvneshwar concedes 9 from the final over but what a fine spell of bowling by him today, finishing with a 3-fer. Is 230 too little to defend? Or enough to put up a fight? Join us for the chase.

After 49 overs, NZ 221/9 (Southee 19, Boult 0): NZ have crossed 200, thanks to steady Santner and Southee. A massive six off Bumrah in the 49th over by Southee gives the Black Caps something to cheer about but Santner is dismissed a couple of balls later, finding Kohli at long off.

After 46 overs, NZ 198/8 (Santner 18, Southee 8): Well, 200 seems possible now. Santner playing a steady hand, Southee gets the boundary off Bumrah with a classic lower-order bat’s french cut. Can Bumrah, Bhuvi finish this off before 50?

WICKET.....S, CHAHAL STRIKES: Two in two balls for the legspinner in the 44th over. First, the big one of de Grandhomme – throws it wide, it turns and CDG can only edge it to Bumrah at short third. Next ball, Milne walks in, goes for a forward defence, misses a slider completely and is caught plumb in front. Uses up the review as well. Southee sees off the hat-trick ball, but a great over by Chahal. Just 3 off it. Up to Santner and Southee now to add some respectability. Santner looking good though, hitting Axar for a massive six over midwicket earlier. After 44 overs, 191/8 (Santner 18, Southee 2)

After 41 overs, NZ 173/6 (de Grandhomme 39, Santner 4): We are into the last 10 overs and NZ don’t look like they’ll reach 250. A couple of overs from Bumrah, Bhuvi and then Axar comes back. CDG has slowed down after that initial aggression.

WICKET, BHUVI STRIKES! Bhuvneshwar strikes when he comes back to the attack, like he often does. Round the wicket, dead accurate with his line and length, and it moves back in ever so slightly, sending Nicholls leg stump for a toss. After 38 overs, NZ 165/6.

After 36 overs, NZ 156/5 (de Grandhomme 28, Nicholls 40): Easily, the Black Caps’ best phase of the match so far. Colin de Grandhomme has played some fantastic whipped drives over the midwicket-long on region as he has raced to 28 off 22 balls. Nicholls upping the ante too. As de Grandhomme hit Chahal out of the attack , Jadhav comes back and then concedes 7. Drinks in Pune.

After 34 overs, New Zealand 138/5: Latham’s wicket was mighty crucial for India and the spinners continue to apply the pressure. Nicholls has quietly moved into the 30s, without too much of a fuss. Colin de Grandhomme is the new man in and he’s probably the first Kiwi batsman to show an aggressive intent from the word go – has raced to 17 with three boundaries, 2 coming off the 34th over from Patel. The overs are going by rapidly. Axar has finished 8, Chahal has finished 5.

WICKET, LATHAM GONE: You live by the sweep, and you die by the sweep. Axar Patel might have been brought into the side precisely for this reason – he’s not the easiest bowler to sweep and that’s how Latham ends up playing all over a ball from around the stump. He’s bowled, the ball crashing into the middle of middle. After 30 overs, NZ: 118/5

After 26 overs, NZ 100/4: Jadhav concedes 8 runs in his 7th over and after a useful spell (7-0-24-0), he’s replaced by Chahal in the 25th over. Should have had Latham’s wicket in his very first over! A little blip on the snicko shows the batsmen edged it but it popped in and out of Dhoni’s gloves. And the Black Caps bring up their 100 in the 26th with a cheeky reverse sweep off the back of his bat against Axar.

After 21 overs, NZ 77/4: Latham continues to look solid, putting the odd bad ball away from Pandya for four down to fine leg but nothing extravagant otherwise. Kedar Jadhav meanwhile has ran through six overs of his spell, conceding just 16. Latham continues to use the sweep against spinners, albeit sparingly this time. Axar Patel comes in to the attack in the 20th and rushes through his over ala Jadeja, conceding just 3. There really is no breathing space for this NZ batting lineup now.

WICKET, TAYLOR GONE: Well, we jinxed that nicely there didn’t we? Just after we questioned Kohli for sticking with Pandya and Jadhav, the former removes Ross Taylor. It’s a short ball, over Taylor’s shoulder and Kiwi pulls it to Dhoni, off his glove. After 16 overs, NZ 58/4

After 15 overs, New Zealand 53/3: Pandya and Jadhav continue in tandem and there’s not much joy for the Kiwis. Interesting that Kohli has not gone on the attack, using his non-frontline bowlers immediately after the 10th despite the team in an advantageous position. Sure, only 11 runs have come in the last 3 overs but India might have missed a trick by not going for a wicket here.

After 12 overs, New Zealand 42/3: Surprise, surprise. After not using him in the previous match, Kohli brings on Jadhav in the 11th over of the match! He concedes just one, with his typical line and length – Taylor, Latham unable to rotate. Pandya from the other end, and he concedes 6, including an elegant cover drive by Taylor for four. Another indication that there’s not much in the pitch.

Over 10: NZ 35/3 (Taylor 6, Latham 4)

Steady over again by Bumrah. This has been a wonderful 10 overs for India. The two fast bowlers have done everything that their skipper could have asked for.

Over 9: NZ 31/3 (Taylor 2, Latham 4)

One lovely cover drive for four shows that Latham is feeling pretty good about his game but the average score here is 327. NZ need another big partnership from these two.

Over 8: NZ 27/3 (Taylor 2)

Bumrah’s second maiden of the match. This has been brilliant bowling by both of India’s seamers.

Over 7: NZ 27/3 (Taylor 2)

WICKET! The knuckle ball does the trick. It completely deceives Munro. Takes the inside edge, and goes onto the stumps off the pads. After three overs, NZ were 21/1. India have completely turned this around. Superb bowling.

C Munro b Kumar 10 (17b 0x4 1x6)

Over 5.3: NZ 25/2 (Munro 9)

WICKET! Williamson gone now. First Bhuvi and now Bumrah, India have struck two big blows. The decision was reviewed but the NZ skipper was clearly trapped in front, the ball would have hit the top of the leg-stump.

Williamson lbw b Bumrah 3 (14b 0x4 0x6)

Over 5: NZ 24/1 (Williamson 5, Munro 9)

Another good over by Bhuvi. He is giving nothing away. Williamson will need to play out this spell.

Over 4: NZ 21/1 (Williamson 1, Munro 8)

Kane Williamson is in next. NZ need to bat big and they need their skipper to fire if they are going to do that. A maiden over from Bumrah kept the Kiwi skipper on the backfoot though.

Over 2.4: NZ 20/1 (Munro 8*)

WICKET! Down the wicket and a six over the bowler’s head. Munro showed why he is opening the batting as he clobbered Bhuvi to maximum effect. But a single brough Guptill on strike and the right-arm seamer struck back with a wonderful delivery. It was just outside the off-stump and moving away. Guptill played at it and go the edge back to the keeper. Easy does it.

Guptill c Dhoni b Kumar 11 (9b 2x4 0x6)

Over 2: NZ 13/0 (Guptill 11, Munro 1)

Two fours in the Bumrah over show just good this pitch is for batting. Guptill just standing tall and hitting through the line. It is the kind of pitch he enjoys and one that the Indian batsmen would enjoy too.

Over 1: NZ 2/0 (Guptill 1, Munro 1)

Good solid over by Bhuvi to start things off. Just one run off it. With Axar Patel back in the lineup, India have shown that they have given Latham’s sweep shot a fair bit of thought. But a good

TOSS

New Zealand have won the toss and elected to bat first. Kane Williamson wants to put some runs on the board first up.

“It’s going to be a tough encounter as it always is against India,” said Williamson.

Kohli says India wanted to chase so no harm done.

“It looks like a good wicket,” says the Indian skipper. “It tends to play better in the evenings.”

Only one change for India: Axar Patel comes into the squad in place of Kuldeep. No change in the NZ lineup.

NZ XI: Guptill, Munro, Williamson(c), Taylor, Latham(w), Nicholls, de Grandhomme, Santner, Milne, Southee, Boult.

Ind XI: Rohit, Shikhar, Virat (C), Kedar, Dinesh, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik, Axar, Bhuvi, Yuzi, Bumrah.

Pitch controversy

The second One-Day International between India and New Zealand in Pune was caught up in a controversy hours before its start after a sting operation conducted by television channel India Today showed the curator Pandurang Salgaoncar interacting with reporters posing as bookies.

Salgaoncar was suspended with immediate effect soon after the news broke out. Ramesh Mhamunkar will replace him as the chief curator.

It was decided that the match will go ahead as scheduled after the pitch was inspected by another curator.

Read the full story HERE.

Sweep them away

Tom Latham isn’t going to change his game plan.

“Everybody is different in the way they play spin in different conditions. I think the Indians play the different way, they are used to these conditions and they have got their game,” said Latham. “One thing that comes to me is sweep that I have played throughout my career. Its something that I find easier to play than hitting down the ground.”

“The other guys may find hitting down the ground easier. Its important to have different game plans for different conditions and try and stick to that,” the 25-year-old said.

Under pressure

An under pressure India will face their stiffest test in recent times when they try to bounce back in the three-match ODI series against a refreshed New Zealand in the must-win second game in Pune today.

It is not often that India find themselves in a ‘save the series situation’ at home, having won the last six in their backyard. The last time India lost back-to-back ODIs at home was in 2013. So it has clearly been a while.