India comfortably chased down England’s modest total of 132 with seven wickets in hand at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. They reached the target in just 13 overs, thus securing a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.

Abhishek Sharma’s Explosive Knock

Abhishek Sharma played a blistering knock, scoring 79 runs off 34 balls. He hit five fours and eight sixes. Meanwhile, Tilak Varma provided excellent support, contributing 42 runs off 84 balls in their 84-run partnership. Additionally, opener Sanju Samson made a quick 26 runs.

England’s Struggle with the Bat

On the other hand, England’s total was modest. Jos Buttler top-scored with 68 off 44 balls. However, he had little support, as England lost wickets regularly. In fact, only two other players reached double figures.

Arshdeep Singh’s Early Breakthroughs

Arshdeep Singh made an immediate impact with the ball, taking two wickets in his first two overs. His first victim was Phil Salt, followed by Ben Duckett. With figures of 3 overs, 10 runs, and 2 wickets, he put India in control early.

Chakravarthy’s Brilliant Spell

Meanwhile, Varun Chakravarthy played a key role. He finished with 3 wickets for 23 runs, dismissing Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone with some excellent off-spin deliveries. Furthermore, Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya also contributed, taking two wickets each.

India’s Fast-Paced Chase

India began their chase with confidence. Samson attacked the bowlers early, scoring 22 runs off Gus Atkinson. Although he fell soon after, and Suryakumar Yadav also went quickly, Abhishek Sharma kept the momentum going and guided India to victory. Ultimately, India chased down the target with ease, thanks to their disciplined bowling and aggressive batting. They claimed a dominant win in the first match of the series.