New Zealand finished with a 219/6 in their first innings of the 1st T20I which is a record T20I score in Wellington. Tim Seifert became the top scorer with a score of 84.
Rohit Sharma who continues to lead India in the absence of Virat Kohli had won the toss and decided to bowl. Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has returned to the Indian squad with allrounder Krunal Pandya and medium pacer Siddarth Kaul.
India had beaten the hosts 4-1 in the ODI series.