WRAP UP:

11 pm: And so it came to pass. Scott Styris made an interesting comment in the studio that only in India can the first match of a series be sidetracked by a retirement spectacle. While he makes a great point, the man who has gone to become a cult figure in Indian cricket, deserves a sendoff. Ashish Nehraji bids farewell to the game he played with so much dignity, with a smile even at the worst of times and a sense of humour that’s unrivalled. In the cricket, India were clinical, with their 202 batting first proving to be a mountain too high to climb for Black Caps. Shikhar Dhawan was the man of match on paper but the moment belongs to Nehraji.

Join us for the second T20I from Rajkot, until then goodnight.

The post-match reaction is all about Nehraji. Here’s a selection of the few:

It’s all about Nehraji right now: A lap of honour around his home ground. Kotla rises for one of their favourites as Kohli and Dhawan lift their senior mate on their shoulders. And a typically witty, poignant speech by Nehra at the end.

A few words from Nehra:

“I will miss all this. That’s what you train for. One thing that 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. But whatever happens, this team is here to stay. The future of Indian cricket is in safe hands for the next six-seven years.”

It’s over at Kotla, India win a T20I for the first time against New Zealand: But the moment is all about Ashish Nehraji. For the final time, with the ball in his hand and a smile on his face, Nehra finishes his India career. A big win for India. A great moment for Nehra. No wickets, but plenty of smiles.

After 19 overs NZ: 126/8 (77 runs required from 12 balls): Santner having some fun at the end, with a six and a four Bhuvi’s over, 11 from the 18th. And off Bumrah’s over, a brilliant shot over wide long on followed by a massive hit for a six. Seems like everyone is just waiting for that one over from Nehraji now.

WICKET, Bumrah gets his first: The formalities getting completed at Kotla. Bumrah removes Southee who outside edges to Dhoni. A hush over Kotla and one gets a feeling that will change when Nehra comes for his last over.

WICKET, Chahal removes Latham: MS Dhoni gets to join in on the fun as Latham dances down but misreads a googly and MSD has the easiest of stumpings. And a nice little moment in that over as Nehra stops the ball with his shoe, it flicks up in the air and he catches it and throws it back much to the amusement of Kohli and Co.

After 16 overs NZ: 105/7 (98 runs required from 24 balls)

WICKET, super fielding by Kohli: And the procession continues at Kotla. Henry Nicholls goes for a quick single and Kohli at midoff pulls off a direct hit.

After 15 overs NZ: 95/6 (108 runs required from 30 balls)

Two wickets in one over for Axar Patel: This match is as good as over now. Axar finishes his fantastic spell with two wickets in his final over. Two identical dismissals with Tom Bruce and Colin de Grandhomme hitting a slog sweep to the leg side fielders. Chahal concedes just 6 from the other end as the required rate shoots over 16.

After 14 overs NZ: 90/5 (113 runs required from 36 balls)

WICKET, Captain Williamson gone: Pandya comes into the attack and gets a wicket straight away. IT’s wide and short, Kane goes for a big cut shot but it takes the outside edge and goes to Dhoni who makes no mistake. Two more boundai After 11 overs, NZ 71/3:

After 9 overs, NZ 54/2: Axar comes on to bowl first over after the powerplay and in his two overs concedes just 10 runs. Nehra with another over in between and as luck would have it, another chance goes begging. Williamson mistimes it, but Kohli at mid-off can just get a hand to it - a super effort to be fair.

End of the powerplay, NZ 33/2: One of the shots of the day by Kane Williamson. Pre-meditates a full ball by Bhuvneshwar and paddles it over fine leg for six. The powerplay ends with an absolute peach by Bhuvi to Latham. Bumrah from the other end concedes just 6 from his first over as pressure piles on New Zealand.

WICKET, BHUVI STRIKES: Pandya’s drop doesn’t prove costly. With Nehraji building the pressure on Munro with short-balls, Bhuvi comes into the attack and fires one perfectly in the block-hole. Bhuvi getting some revenge for the damage Munro caused in the 3rd ODI a few days back. 3 runs and a wicket in that over. After 4 overs, NZ 18/1

After 3 overs, NZ 15/1: Oh Pandya, Oh Nehraji. After taking that stunner, Pandya puts down a high catch running backwards, preventing Nehra from getting a wicket in his last match.

WICKET, WHAT A CATCH BY PANDYA: One of the greatest catches you’ll ever see. Guptill mistimes a lofted off drive, and Hardik covers plenty of distance from long off and takes a full-stretch diving catch. Just 2 from the over as well. NZ 8/1 after 2 overs.

Take a look for yourself:

1st over, NZ 6/0: New Zealand’s chase underway with Ashish Nehra bowling from Ashish Nehra end! And a good over too. Just 6 runs from the over despite a (mis-hit) boundary down the ground. Plenty of trademark Nehra smiles too.

DATA CHECK: India’s 202 was set up by Dhawan’s highest T20I score and India’s highest T20I opening partnership.

End of India’s innings, India 202/3: 17 runs off the final over. What a finish! Dhoni and Kohli entertain the crowd immensely with a six each over midwicket. Excellent stuff. Kohli finishes with a 11 ball-26.

WICKET: After some confusion, Rohit Sharma (80 off 55 balls) is correctly given out. The umpire refers to the 3rd umpire for bump-ball caught behind and it’s given not out. But since it was not a DRS referral, snicko wasn’t used. So Williamson reviews anyway and snicko says its out. Bizarre. 11 runs from that over all the same. 185/3 after 19 overs.

After 18 overs, India 174/2: Big over for India. 14 conceded by de Grandhomme including the shot of the day by Kohli - a flick off the wrists over long on for a massive six. That was almost out of Kotla.

Two wickets in an over for Ish Sodhi: What an over by the legspinner. Completely against the run of play, comes up with a peach. First, the end of India’s highest T20I partnerhsip with Dhawan caught behind and stumped off the same ball, charging down. Pandya then promoted, falls to a brilliant leg-break – caught behind again. Just 2 runs from that over. After 17 overs INDIA: 160/2

After 16 INDIA: 158/0 (Dhawan 80, Rohit 70): It’s a bloodbath at Kotla. Goodness, Rohit and Dhawan have just teed off. Sharma gets to his 50 with a six over long on off Santner and follows that up with two fours. Next over, Dhawan plunders two fours after another six by Rohit off Boult.

Last 13 balls starting with that six by Dhawan: 6 0 6 4 4 1 0 6 1 4 4 1 2

After 14 overs, India 125/0: Dhawan is on fire at Kotla. Shifts gears after reaching his 50. In the 13th over by Sodhi – a six over midwicket and a four to get to his highest T20I score. And then off the last ball of the 14th by Southee, a majestic hit over midwicket for six. Picked it up from just outside off and deposits into the stands.

FIFTY FOR DHAWAN: This has been a stylish innings from the Delhi boy in front of his home crowd. Gets to his 50 off 37 balls as India reach their 100 in the 12th over. At the other end, Rohit is getting a move on as well with a six over long on and a rasping off drive towards long for a four off Munro’s over. After 12 overs India 100/0

After 10 overs, India 80/0: An eventful over from CDG – two full toss no balls in that over as the knuckle ball slips from his hands resulting in 2 free hits and a freebie four. Rohit, struggling as he is, can only find the long off fielder with his heave while Dhawan nails the cover drive for 4 with his free hit. 18 from that over! Sodhi from the other end concedes just 6 singles.

After 8 overs, India 56/0: An atypical NZ on the field today. Southee drops Rohit off de Grandhomme’s first over as the Mumbaikar struggles to get his timing again. Sodhi comes into the attack and concedes just 3 singles. Again Rohit finding the fielders, he’s on 18 off 21 now.

End of powerplay, India 46/0: Another fine over by Santner, spoiled slightly by a mis-hit four by Rohit Sharma over the short extra cover fielder off the last ball. There is turn and bounce on offer for Santner, beating both Dhawan and Rohit.

After 5 overs, India 38/0 : Dhawan continues to target Boult. Two more boundaries in the fourth over – one past short fine leg, pulled fine and then a trademark cut shot that races past third man. Southee from the other end and he concedes a boundary as well, to another cut but this is poor fielding from Ish Sodhi who dives over the ball. Dhawan the aggressor so far, moved on to 25.

After 3 overs India 21/0: The second over that starts well for NZ, goes downhill. Boult starts with an excellent away swinger that beats Dhawan but Gabbar bounces back to get two boundaries – one down to fine leg and an elegant flick wide of square leg. The last was fiercely cut but Santner puts it down at point. It was very much catchable. Southee from the other end and Rohit gets his first six with a slice over third man that evades the fielder.

1st over, India 2/0: New Zealand with spin to start, not surprisingly. Santner concedes just 2 runs in the first over, with some good line and length. Dhawan tries the sweep couple of times, fails to connect.

ALL SET FOR THE START:

We are all set for Nehraji’s farewell match to get underway. National anthems done. And a reminder that India have never defeated New Zealand in T20 internationals in five previous meetings. Kohli and Co would dearly look to reverse that statistic.

Relaxed Nehraji

TEAM NEWS:

06:40 pm: Apart from Nehraji’s inclusion, the other big news is that Shreyas Iyer makes his India debut. A proud moment for the youngster. Here’s the full XI for the teams.

India: Rohit, Dhawan, Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwa Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Yuzvendar Chahal, Bumrah

New Zealand: Guptill, Munro, Williamson, Bruce, Latham, Nicholls, Colin, Santner, Southee, Boult, Sodhi

TOSS

06:30 pm: The big news – Kane Williamson wins the toss & Kiwis will bowl first. The bigger news Ashish Nehra is playing!

06:25 pm: Hello and welcome to the live blog for the first T20I between India and New Zealand at Kotla in New Delhi. Or, as the match will likely be remembered for, Ashish Nehra ji’s farewell to cricket. We are minutes away from the toss and finding out if Nehraji will be in the playing XI.