India secured a commanding seven-wicket victory against England in the first T20I in Kolkata, powered by Abhishek Sharma's scintillating 79 off 34 balls and a clinical bowling performance. With this win, India leads the five-match series 1-0.
Bowling first, India restricted England to a modest 132, a far cry from Eden Gardens' average first-innings score of 195. The spin trio of Varun Chakravarthy (3/23), Axar Patel (2/22), and Ravi Bishnoi (0/23) delivered under dewy conditions, collectively conceding just 67 runs in 12 overs. Arshdeep Singh's fiery opening spell of 2/17 rattled England early, earning him the title of India's leading T20I wicket-taker with 97 scalps.
Despite Jos Buttler's valiant 68 off 44 balls, England's batting faltered, unable to build partnerships or counter India's tactical bowling changes under stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav. Varun Chakravarthy, returning to his IPL home ground, dismantled the middle order by dismissing key players like Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone.
Chasing 133, India cruised to victory in just 12.5 overs. Abhishek Sharma stole the spotlight with a dazzling display of power-hitting, smashing eight sixes and five fours. Supported by Tilak Verma (19*), Abhishek's aggressive knock ensured India sealed the match with 43 balls to spare. A reprieve on 29 allowed him to unleash his full potential, hammering Adil Rashid for consecutive boundaries and sixes.
India’s all-around performance, combining sharp bowling and electrifying batting, sets the tone for the remainder of the series, showcasing their dominance over England in T20 cricket.
