India vs England 1st T20I Highlights: Abhishek Sharma’s Blazing Half-Century Powers India to Comfortable Win
Eden Gardens, Kolkata – January 22, 2025
India 134/3 (14.4 overs) beat England 132 all out (20 overs) by 7 wickets
India made light work of England’s target of 133 in the first T20I, comfortably chasing it down with 43 balls to spare, powered by an explosive half-century from Abhishek Sharma. His blistering knock guided India to a dominant seven-wicket victory at Eden Gardens.
Key Moments:
- Abhishek Sharma was the standout performer with the bat, scoring a rapid 50 in just 20 balls to propel India to victory. His fearless approach meant India never looked in trouble, reaching the target with 43 balls still to spare.
- Jofra Archer was the only bowler to put up any resistance, keeping the Indian batters at bay for a time. England had no choice but to bowl him out in the first 10 overs, as he bowled all four of his overs in the early stages of the innings.
- Sanju Samson gave India a superb start, smashing 22 runs in one over and setting the tone for the chase. His quickfire contributions helped the Indian team build momentum early on.
Earlier, India’s bowlers had dominated, restricting England to a modest total of 132 in their 20 overs. Jos Buttler played a lone hand for the visitors, scoring 68 runs off 44 balls, which included his 26th T20I half-century off just 34 balls. However, Buttler’s efforts weren’t enough, as no other batter could build any significant partnerships. Harry Brook was the only other English player to reach double figures, making 17 runs off 14 balls before being dismissed.
India’s bowling attack, led by Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy, was exceptional. Arshdeep picked up two wickets in his first two overs, surpassing Yuzvendra Chahal as India’s highest-ever wicket-taker in T20Is. Chakravarthy also played a key role, dismissing Buttler for his third wicket and keeping the pressure firmly on England.
Suryakumar Yadav, India’s captain, rotated his bowlers effectively, not allowing England’s batters to settle into a rhythm. Hardik Pandya, who shared the new ball with Arshdeep, played his part in containing the opposition, despite Buttler targeting him in his opening overs.
Surprise in the Toss:
In a surprising move, Suryakumar Yadav opted to leave Mohammed Shami out of the playing XI for the first T20I. After winning the toss, Suryakumar chose to bowl first, a decision that paid off handsomely as India’s bowlers restricted England to a subpar total.
With the win, India leads 1-0 in the five-match T20I series. They’ll look to maintain their momentum as they move into the next match, scheduled for January 24, 2025.
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