IND vs NZ

That is all from the action tonight with India taking a 1-0 lead in this 5-match series. The action moves to Raipur now where the second match will be played after a day's gap. We will be there as always. For now, this is Sourabh Agrawal sigining off on behalf of Darpan Tikiya and the entire team. Cheers!

Abhishek Sharma is the Player of the Match for his 84 runs off 35 balls, here are his words: "The routines that we have been following since day 1, just trying to follow that. (six-hitting) If you want to hit every ball for six, want to go at a strike rate of 200 so you have got to practice a lot. All these teams have plans against me but for me it is about my practice. (About his role) I would not say that it is high-risk. I always say team first, I won't say it is a natural role for me but if we get runs in the first 4-5 overs it puts the pressure on the opposition. I do not do range hitting, I'm more of a timer of a ball. If you watch videos, you get a fair idea of what shots you can play. I do not have a lot of shots. (Slip fielding) Shubman was the first choice for that but I am enjoying it. Have worked hard for it as well with Dilip Sir (fielding coach) and I am enjoying it."

Suryakumar Yadav (India Captain): "(Plusses today) It is always good when we bat first and put runs on the board, when there is a little bit of dew and then defend is always a big positive. The way we batted as well, having been put under pressure in the powerplay at 25/2, we took the game till the 15th over and never stopped, all the batters played their roles well. (On the combination of 8 batters and 3 strike bowlers) It looks good, it has been working for me and the team. So if it is working, let's continue with that. (Batting at number 4) I felt good when I went into bat, perfect situation for me to go in, good pressure situation. As I said earlier as well, I have been batting relly well in the nets. It was just a matter of time of playing a few balls, bat the way I bat and not change my identity. (Hitting through the off side) It came naturally, I have been practicing the strokes that I played in the last 2-3 weeks, some practices games as well, was feeling good. (On the fielding) With such heavy dew, few heavy light here and there. Just supporting my fielders but we keep improving, that is one department we always try to keep getting better at, really happy with the boys. (On Abhishek Sharma) My fingers are crossed, the way he prepares, the way he carries himself in the hotel and the team bus, these small things matter a lot and he is bearing the fruits."

Mitchell Santner (New Zealand captain): "I think you are always looking to win the game. It was a good hit out for us. A good game for us, but India played really well. 

(The positives) GP's (Glenn Phillips) knock and Chappy's (Mark Chapman) knock. You just gotta be on from ball one. 

(On Mitchell bowling the final over) That is just how it turned out. The Indian boys put our spinners under pressure. With only 4 men out in the last over, it is difficult for anyone. (On Jacob Duffy) He has shown his class for us. He is taken a senior role. (On his own batting position) At no. 7, I am a little bit hight. 8 is more apt. We still have a few guys to come in.

Rinku Singh says, "There is always a bit of nervousness and pressure. But my thinking was to play just how I have been playing over the years. Take ones and twos and hit the odd boundary in between. GG sir (Head coach Gautam Gambhir) told us to back ourselves and our ways. I am sad about dropping a catch. The lights were not a problem. These matches are important. Winning the series is important. We will carry this confidence into the World Cup too. I am prepared to bat at no.5, no.6, no.7. I told Arshdeep to try and give me strike by pinching a single, but it happens. Towards the end (of the 19th over), I told him to swing and he even got a boundary."

10:43 PM IST: MATCH SUMMARY

India (238/7 in 20 overs) beat New Zealand (190/7 in 20 overs) by 48 runs

Abhishek Sharma 84(35) | Shivam Dube 2/28(3)
Glenn Phillips 78(40) | Jacob Duffy 2/27(4)

All smiles in the Indian camp, this is as comprehensive as it gets to kickstart your final preps for the T20 WC. Yes, there were a couple of dropped catches but that aside this was a spotless performance from the hosts and they have brushed the Kiwis aside to take a 1-0 lead in the 5-match series!

New Zealand will look back at it at how sloppy they were with the ball, on the field as well which is very uncharacteristic for any side that comes from their part of the world.

239 was a mammoth target set for New Zealand, they needed as close an innings with the bat as it gets to perfect but the run chase never really got going. NZ were reduced to 1/2 in the second over itself, Arshdeep and Hardik struck with the new ball right at the start and it was always going to be catchup for them from there on.

Glenn Phillips was near his best with the bat but he barely got any supprort from the other end, Phillips scored 78 off 40 and even though the run rate kept climbing throughout the innings right from the first over itself but till the time Phillips was out there even though the flame was only a feeble one for the Kiwis.

Axar got rid of Phillips and then he copped a blow to his left index finger and had to go off the field with some bleeding, remains to be seen how serious that is.

Not the best of the nights for Chakaravarthy but he still ended up with a couple of wickets. Bumrah bowled three overs and looked pretty solid even though he did not get any wickets, he should have had one had it not been for a dropped catch. Dube got a couple of wickets in the final over which would be another positive for India.

Overall, this was yet another clinical performance from the Indian T20 side who have made another statement and they have outplayed NZ who are still not full-strength. Regardless of that, this is just another reminder to just how good this Indian T20 side is.

19.6 Shivam Dube to Kyle Jamieson, just a single. India win by 48 runs and go 1-0 up in the series. Full ball outside off. Jamieson slapped it towards long-off and jogged down to add one to his name. The crowd erupts one more time to rejoice. It has been a dominating performance from the home team

19.5 Shivam Dube to Kyle Jamieson, anti-climatic. The crowd sighs in unison. Slower ball on a full length, outside off. Jamieson swung and missed. 

19.4 Shivam Dube to Kristian Clarke, CAUGHT BY RINKU! Golden duck for Clarke on his T20I debut. Dube has two in two. Full toss hurled at the tram line on the off side. The batter shuffled towards it and then whacked it towards long-on, where the fielder judged it to perfection. He had to hop up to eventually grab it and Rinku made it look easy. 

Muhmmad Ashu: "I have seen from the last 6 months, fielding is not up to the standards that we used to have... We should fix it as soon as possible,,"
On cue, Muhmmad Ashu

19.3 Shivam Dube to Daryl Mitchell, EXCELLENT CATCH! Bishnoi is the fielder. Dube gets the wicket of Mitchell to his name. Full ball outside off. Mitchell unleashed an expansive lofted drive towards the right of long-off. The aformentioned substitute fielder, who was stationed there, ran across to his right and grabbed it while running on the brink of the boundary.

19.2 Shivam Dube to Mitchell Santner, big full toss, hurled at the tram line. 119.1 kph. Had Santner left it, it would have been a wide. But he reached for it and ended up hitting it towards the stumps at the bowling end. The pick a single on the ricochet.