New Delhi: The Indian team had an optional training session, on Tuesday, the eve of the first T20I of a three-match series against New Zealand, at the Kotla.

Most of the top stars, including skipper Virat Kohli, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, chose to skip the practice session leaving it for the juniors to go through the grind under head coach Ravi Shastri. Yet, a handful of fans stood around the nets throughout - they were all waiting for local boy Ashish Nehra to come out of the dressing room.

That the 38-year-old fast bowler might play his last international match on Wednesday night has somewhat overshadowed the actual contest. A capacity crowd is expected to be present at the Kotla for the match and many of them would like to see their home 'boy' bowling for the last time.

Nehra did not practice - he stayed in the dressing room with the masseur. Only once he came out for a few minutes to talk to some of the support staff and then walked back to the pavilion.

Team sources, however, confirmed the veteran of 17 Tests, 120 ODIs and 26 T20 encounters is set to find a place in the starting XI.

"A couple of sponsors' boxes at the VIP stands have been bought solely by Nehra fans," said a Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) official. "The Kotla will give a fitting farewell to their star bowler," he added.

Nehra is one of Delhi's favourite cricketers. He has been in and out of the Indian team several times, and despite suffering many career-threatening injuries, he managed to make a comeback at the top level every time.

Coming back to the match, India have dominated New Zealand in Tests and ODIs in the recent past, but that Black Caps have a far better track record against the Indians in T20Is. In the shortest version of the game, the two teams have played five completed matches and on all occasions New Zealand beat India to make it an enviable 5-0 record. In case they topple India this time too, it would be their first series win in India in any form of the game.

Also, it is important to add that New Zealand are the No.1 team in T20Is as per the ICC rankings.

Young Shreyas Iyer indicated that Kohli's boys are not taking New Zealand lightly despite India's commendable victory in the ODI series.

"They are a very good side and are playing well. They are a challenging team," Iyer said.

While batting at the nets, Iyer was hit on the arm and left the training session as a precautionary measure.

New Zealand also are looking for a different result, knowing well their T20I record is far more impressive.

"It is nice to have a three-match series, because (in T20Is) it is usually just one-off or at the most two. But here, there is plenty to play for.... We have a good record against India. So we are looking forward to this series. Hopefully, we can get off to a good start," said the New Zealand cricketer.

India, however, should not have much to worry. They played like a well-oiled machine in the ODIs, though it must be said that New Zealand gave them a really tough fight.

About the team combination, there won't be many surprises in the batting order. Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni pick themselves.

There will also be Manish Pandey and Dinesh Karthik. Hardik Pandya will be the all-rounder. If Nehra plays, India might drop one between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah unless of course they plan to play three specialist seamers. Akshar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal may continue to be the preferred spinners.

It is not that New Zealand do not have players to fall upon. Skipper Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, Tom Latham or Henry Nicholas are all potential match winners on their days.