New Delhi:
New Zealand chose to bat but they got off to a poor start with Tim Seifert and Colin Munro falling cheaply. Krunal Pandya took three wickets, including taking the wicket of Daryl Mitchell controversially despite the DRS. Colin de Grandhomme smashed a fifty while Ross Taylor also registered a solid knock but India restricted them to 158/8. In response, Rohit Sharma became the leading run-getter in T20Is and also blasted 100 sixes, becoming the third man in the history of the format to achieve this feat. Rohit's 16th fifty and 79-run opening stand boosted India. New Zealand looked to fightback but Rishabh Pant's aggressive 40 helped India win by seven wickets and break their jinx in New Zealand. This was New Zealand's first win in the format and the three-match series is level 1-1 with one match to play in Seddon Park, Hamilton. (SCORECARD)
That is it! Finally, India have broken the jinx in New Zealand. Rishabh Pant slams a straight boundary and India win the Auckland game by seven wickets. This is the first time India have ever won a T20I in New Zealand.
Rishabh Pant seals the deal in grand style with a massive six off Tim Southee and India are closing in on breaking their jinx in New Zealand.
India need 24 off 24 balls. Dhoni and Pant are doing it calmly.
Rishabh Pant hits a four and Vijay Shankar blasts a six but Daryl Mitchell gets the wicket. Enter MS Dhoni!
Vijay Shankar hits a boundary off Kugglejin as India need 52 off 42 balls.
Pant slams a boundary off Sodhi but India need 62 off 48 balls. India need to ensure the run-rate does not go out of hand.
New Zealand are fighting back. Lockie Ferguson has bowled at 145 kmph and the edge is taken at backward point. Dhawan falls for 30 and after Rohit's dismissal, India are stuttering slightly.
Rohit becomes the leading run-getter in T20Is and he also becomes the third player to hit over 100 sixes in this format. He also smashes his 16th fifty and India are on course for a big win.
Rohit gets closer to becoming the leading run-getter in the T20I format as he launches Lockie Ferguson to the deep extra cover fence.
Dhawan slams two boundaries while Rohit Sharma becomes the third player to hit 100 sixes in T20Is with a splendid flick off Kugglejin.
Rohit Sharma launches Lockie Ferguson into the second tier of the stands at deep midwicket and he closes in on a special milestone.
Good start from Kugglejin as he concedes just four runs. Slow start for India.
Rohit Sharma gets going with a boundary off Tim Southee while Scott Kugglejin operates at the other end.
One feels this is a below-par total. The short boundaries at Auckland will be tempting for Dhawan and Rohit and if they get going, then this total can be chased down easily.
Khaleel Ahmed gets the wickets of Santner and Tim Southee as New Zealand finish on 158/8. This is a slightly under-par score and India will have an advantage.
Mitchell Santner falls to Khaleel Ahmed but Scott Kuggliejin gets a life as he is dropped by Hardik Pandya.
Ross Taylor is run-out for a solid 42 thanks to a direct hit from Vijay Shankar. New Zealand have crossed 150. Can they go past 165?
Ross Taylor slams a slog sweep off Hardik Pandya and New Zealand are nearing 150. Can they finish on a high?
Bhuvneshwar Kumar concedes just seven runs in the 17th over as India are fighting back.
That was in the slot for de Grandhomme to launch Hardik Pandya into the stands but he finds Rohit at cover. Can Mitchell Santner and Ross Taylor boost New Zealand past 160?
Colin de Grandhomme notches up his maiden fifty and he falls immediately. However, one feels he has done his job for New Zealand.
Colin de Grandhomme is nearing fifty as New Zealand stage a revival.
Colin de Grandhomme is in that zone today. He blasts a four and two sixes off Yuzvendra Chahal and he spoils Krunal Pandya's figures with two massive sixes. de Grandhomme is liking the short boundaries at Eden Park.
Krunal Pandya's wickets have stalled New Zealand totally but the major talking point will be the DRS controversy. Here is the breakout.
Krunal Pandya gets his third wicket and there is plenty of action. Kane Williamson falls for 20 as the hosts totter.
Krunal Pandya gets two wickets. Munro slices a full ball to cover while Daryl Mitchell gets a controversial decision against him as he is given out on review. There was a clear inside edge but there is no mark on snicko. After a lengthy discussion, the umpire tells him to go. There is a lot of tension at the moment in Auckland.
Williamson is striking at close to 200 as he whacks two boundaries off Hardik Pandya, one to third man and the other to the deep cover fence.
Colin Munro mauls a massive six off Khaleel Ahmed and it goes into the stands at long on. Kane Williamson gets going with a boundary off the same bowler and once again New Zealand are making a good start in the powerplay.
India appeal for an LBW but they decide to not review it. Height might have been a factor.
Brilliant bowling from Bhuvneshwar. Seifert blasts a boundary and a six but the bowler has his revenge as the batsman edges it to Dhoni who makes no mistake.
Khaleel Ahmed bowls well as he concedes just two runs. He is bowling the cutters and he is beating the batsmen with his variations.
Good start from Bhuvneshwar Kumar as he concedes just three runs. He is getting some swing on offer on this wicket.
Tim Seifert and Colin Munro are out in the middle. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will open the bowling. Can India strike early or will New Zealand get off to a fast start?
When asked about the omission of Kuldeep, Rohit said, "I know there will be a lot of talk about Krunal and Kuldeep. Kuldeep has been brilliant for us. It's just that we want to see other guys as well, especially in overseas conditions. Having one bad game doesn't say anything."
Can India click in all departments in this match? In wellington, they dropped catches and the bowling was all over the place. The poor performance of the bowlers resulted in the batting not putting up a fight in their chase of 219.
Even the Indian side are unchanged. They have not included Kuldeep Yadav. Here are the playing XIs of both the sides.
India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni(w), Vijay Shankar, Shubman Gill, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kedar Jadhav, Kuldeep Yadav
New Zealand: Tim Seifert(w), Colin Munro, Kane Williamson(c), Daryl Mitchell, Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Scott Kuggeleijn, Tim Southee, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson
New Zealand have won the toss and chosen to bat and they are unchanged.
Rohit Sharma is on the cusp of two records in Twenty20 Internationals. Can he get it today in Auckland?
With the women's match proving to be an absolute humdinger, it is now upto the men to provide more fireworks. Can Rohit Sharma and the team stay alive or will New Zealand seal a series and pile on the misery for the Indian team in this format?
Heartbreak for India women. They lose the Auckland T20I by four wickets off the last ball. They fought till the end but it was not enough. New Zealand have clinched the series. It is now upto Rohit Sharma and the men's team to stay alive.
Mansi Joshi has kept it tight but Taniya Bhatia fumbles as New Zealand need 2 off 2. Can India stay alive or will New Zealand clinch the series? Super over on the cards?
Deepti Sharma bowls an excellent over as she concedes five runs in the 19th over. White Ferns need 9 off the last over but Mansi Joshi concedes a four in the first ball. However, she has her revenge by getting rid of Katey Martin
Arundhati Reddy gets the big wicket of Suize Bates for 62 and then follows it up with the wicket of Anna Peterson for 0. India women are fighting back but New Zealand women need 14 off 12
A warm welcome to the second Twenty20 International between New Zealand and India at Auckland. The ground's straight boundaries are 45 meters! Yes, you read that right. Before the men's match, there is the women's Twenty20 International and the White Ferns need 19 off 18 balls.
