MS Dhoni Photo Credit: AP MS Dhoni scored 39 off 31 balls in 1st T20I against New Zealand

Mahendra Singh Dhoni earned himself an unwanted record after India's 80-run loss in the 1st T20I against New Zealand in Wellington. The veteran wicket-keeper top-scored for the Men in Blue with 39 runs off 31 balls but his efforts were not enough to get the team over the line in a mammoth chase of 220 runs. With a defeat in Wellington, India have now lost all T20I games in which Dhoni has top-scored.

New Zealand posted a staggering total of 219 runs on the board in 20 overs after a brilliant knock of 84 runs from opener Tim Seifert, who scored a quickfire 84 off 43 deliveries and was well supported by Colin Munro (34) and Kane Williamson (34). A late 7-ball 20 cameo from Scott Kuggelejin ensure the hosts comfortably crossed the 200-run mark.

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In reply, India lost skipper Rohit Sharma (1) early in the chase. Shikhar Dhawan (29) and Vijay Shankar (27) then posted a 33-run stand for the second wicket but post the duo's departure, the Indian middle-order crumbled under pressure with the likes of Rishabh Pant (4), Dinesh Karthik (5) and Hardik Pandya (4) all failing to deliver.

Dhoni and Krunal Pandya were left with a monumental task of getting India back in the game from 77/6 in eleven overs. The duo eventually failed to get India over the line as the visitors fell short by 80 runs. Dhoni, with his 39-run knock, completed his 1500 runs in T20Is but it was another instance when India lost the game he top-scored for the team in a T20I game.

Instances when MS Dhoni top-scored in T20Is for India:

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48* v Aus, Sydney, 2012 (Lost by 31 runs)

38 v Eng, Mumbai WS, 2012 (Lost by six wickets)

30 v NZ, Nagpur, 2016 (Lost by 47 runs)

36*v Eng, Kanpur, 2017 (Lost by seven wickets)

39 v NZ, W'ton, 2019 (Lost by 80 runs)

The Men in Blue will look to bounce back in the second T20I to be played in Auckland on Friday.