New Zealand beat India by 47 runs

As it happened…

2240 hrs IST: ALL OVER! Ashish Nehra has been yorked! New Zealand spin trio picks up nine wickets out of the ten that fell. India lose by 47 runs

2238 hrs IST: WICKET! Dhoni hits straight to long-on. He made 30 off 30 and it’s all over for India

2234 hrs IST: WICKET! Sodhi responds in fine fashion, gets Ashwin out stumped. India 73/8

2232 hrs IST: SIX! Dhoni goes straight, goes big. Much needed hit for India. Nagpur crowd back to life

2220 hrs IST: Boundaries just not coming for India. They have hit only three in the innings so far, need plenty now

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2215 hrs IST: Right then, we are into the last six overs. India need 70 runs, New Zealand need three wickets

2210 hrs IST: It’s Dhoni and the tail now. Can he do it?

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2209 hrs IST: WICKET! Sodhi takes a sharp return catch to get rid of Ravindra Jadeja, who is out for a duck. India 43/7

2204 hrs IST: WICKET! Santner with the ball and he traps Pandya in front. India slip further to 42/6

2200 hrs IST: WICKET! Spinner Sodhi into the attack and he removes Kohli with his first ball. India now in deep deep trouble. 39/5

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2150 hrs IST: India 29/4 after six overs. Kohli and Dhoni in the middle

2146 hrs IST: The match is excitingly poised in Nagpur

2143 hrs IST: WICKET! Yuvraj is out caught and bowled McCullum, India in a spot of bother at 26/4

2140 hrs IST: Yuvraj Singh is the man in middle with Virat Kohli

2134 hrs IST: WICKET! Santner has another! Suresh Raina chips to mid-wicket for a simple catch. India 12/3 after 3 overs

2131 hrs IST: WICKET! Rohit Sharma comes way down the wicket but misses. Ronchi, after a fumble, removes the bails. Santner gets a wicket

2128 hrs IST: Virat Kohli is the main wicket here for New Zealand

2122 hrs IST: WICKET! Shikhar Dhawan tries to sweep but misses it. New Zealand appeal and umpire raises his finger. India 5/1

2120 hrs IST; Rohit Sharma chips one in air but away from the fielder

2103 hrs IST: India keep New Zealand to 126/7 in Nagpur. (Anderson 34; Bumrah 1/15, Raina 1/16, )

2100 hrs IST: FOUR and now a SIX! Ronchi with useful hits in the last over

2054 hrs IST: We are into the last over. New Zealand 111/6, Ashish Nehra with the ball for India

2049 hrs IST: New Zealand 103/6 at the end of 18 overs. Need some fireworks to post a decent total in Nagpur

2045 hrs IST: WICKET! Jadeja responds in fine fashion, scalps Santner who miscues the pull. New Zealand struggling now, 98/6

2043 hrs IST: One bounce and over the ropes. Santner charges Jadeja and hits it in the safest spot – over the bowler’s head

2040 hrs IST: It has been a very disciplined effort from India. If they sustain the same in the last four overs, they can keep New Zealand to a very modest total

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2039 hrs IST: WICKET! Bumrah did what he does best – clean up a batsman with a yorker. Anderson went for the cheeky scoop but failed to put bat to ball. 89/5

2035 hrs IST: Just five overs left. New Zealand need a move on now. They are 88/4 at this stage of the game

2030 hrs IST: Santner flicks one in the gap and hits a boundary. Pandya leaks a boundary early in his first over

2028 hrs IST: Raina ends with impressive figures of 1/16

2020 hrs IST: Ooouch! Anderson misses the sweep but the ball hits Dhoni’s right hand. In some pain, the skipper!

2015 hrs IST: WICKET! Sensational effort from Raina ends Ross Taylor’s innings. New Zealand slip further. 61/4

2013 hrs IST: Jadeja to bowl his left-arm spin now. Will be interesting to see whether Dhoni uses Yuvraj or Pandya now

2010 hrs IST: FIFTY up for New Zealand in the 10th overs

2009 hrs IST: Dhoni re-introduces Ashwin into the attack. The offie will bowl out inside the first 10 overs

2005 hrs IST: Anderson, batting on 22 off 22, holds key for New Zealand. Not enough runs on the board at the moment but he’s capable to shift gears with ease

1958 hrs IST: WICKET! Raina strikes in his first over. Williamson charges the offie, beaten and Dhoni does the rest behind the stumps. 35/3

1954 hrs IST: JUST! Jadeja misses the stumps, Anderson would have been in trouble. New Zealand living dangerously in the middle

1952 hrs IST: Bumrah to bowl the last over of the powerplay, replaces Nehra
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1951 hrs IST: Another boundary…New Zealand 32/2 after the first five overs

1950 hrs IST: Tight single…direct-hit and Kane Williamson would have been in trouble

1947 hrs IST: Nehra concedes a boundary off the last ball. New Zealand 22/2 after four overs

1940 hrs IST: It’s very very noisy in Nagpur. Spare a thought for the umpires, won’t be easy today

1937 hrs IST: WICKET! Munro charges Nehra, goes ahead with the expansive drive but miscues it to Pandya. 13/2

1936 hrs IST: Munro plays and misses, Nehra follows it up with a little stare

1934 hrs IST: SIX! Colin Munro reverse-sweeps and it goes all the way

1933 hrs IST: WICKET! Looks to go big again but is trapped in front. New Zealand 6/1

1931 hrs IST: Martin Guptill sends the first ball for a 86m over Ashwin’s head. Counter-attack

1930 hrs IST: New Zealand openers are out in the middle. Ashwin to bowl

1918 hrs IST: New Zealand will bowl second. Any dew could make it difficult for their three spinners later on

1915 hrs IST: Sehwag is ready already cheering for ‘Nehra ji’, are you?

1910 hrs IST: IND XI – RG Sharma, S Dhawan, V Kohli, MS Dhoni*†, SK Raina, Yuvraj Singh, HH Pandya, RA Jadeja, R Ashwin, JJ Bumrah, A Nehra

NZ XI – MJ Guptill, KS Williamson*, C Munro, LRPL Taylor, CJ Anderson, GD Elliott, MJ Santner, L Ronchi†, NL McCullum, AF Milne, IS Sodhi

1905 hrs IST: New Zealand have dropped Boult and Southee, go heavy on spin for this contest

1900 hrs IST: TOSS! New Zealand elect to bat against India in Nagpur

1855 hrs IST: Shouts of Dhoni, Dhoni as the two captains walk out for the big TOSS

1849 hrs IST: PITCH! Lots of cracks and no grass on this strip. Life won’t be that easy for the batters as the ball would grip for the spinners

1846 hrs IST: Sigh of relief for the Men in Blue. They don’t have McCullum to worry about today

1840 hrs IST: Virat Kohli out for a hit before the opener

1835 hrs IST: Yuvraj pays his respect before entering the field

1830 hrs IST: India have won seven games on the trot, if they win today it will be a new record

1820 hrs IST: Meanwhile, India women’s team commences campaign with convincing win over Bangladesh

1812 hrs IST: And, the participation improves

1810 hrs IST: Aakash Chopra with some observations ahead of the game

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The build-up

WATCH: Fan frenzy ahead of Nagpur opener

India’s march begins at Zero Mile

MS Dhoni attends a practice session at the Jamtha Stadium in Nagpur ahead of their World T20 opener against New Zealand. (Source: AP)

Seniors with point to prove and confident youngsters form the perfect mix as the hosts begin their campaign against NZ in Nagpur.

WATCH: What to expect from #INDvsNZ

Favourites don’t always finish on top

MS Dhoni and his men face New Zealand in their World T20 opener in Nagpur on Tuesday. (Source: PTI)

For India, the banana-skin ride begins on Tuesday. Ten wins in the last 11 T20 internationals have made them the favorites for the World T20 but the towering expectations (from fans and experts alike) have a flip side to them. This is the most unpredictable format of cricket where things can change in two overs. However, India’s current form doesn’t allow them a logical leeway to slip. To be honest, MS Dhoni is in an unenviable position.

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