IND vs ENG: India thrash England by seven wickets in series opener, Varun Chakravarthy, Abhishek Sharma grab limelight

Add as a preferred source on Google

IND vs ENG: India outclassed England by seven wickets in the first T20I at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, chasing down a modest target of 133 in just 12.5 overs. Abhishek Sharma was the standout performer, hammering a scintillating 79 off 34 balls to guide India to a commanding win and a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

After winning the toss and opting to bowl, India's bowlers put on a clinical display. Varun Chakravarthy led the charge with figures of 3/23, dismantling England's middle order with two quick strikes.

Arshdeep Singh, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel chipped in with two wickets each as England struggled to build partnerships. Jos Buttler stood tall for the visitors, scoring a valiant 68, but found little support from his teammates. Harry Brook (17) and Jofra Archer (12) were the only other batters to reach double figures as England were bundled out for 132 in 20 overs.

India's chase began on a cautious note against Jofra Archer, who dismissed Sanju Samson (26) and Suryakumar Yadav (0) with sharp short-pitched deliveries. However, Abhishek Sharma turned the tide with a breathtaking counterattack. He punished both pace and spin, displaying a wide range of strokes on both sides of the wicket. Sharma's dismissal in the 11th over brought Tilak Varma (19*) to the crease, who ensured there were no further hiccups.

Sanju Samson provided a steady start at the top, while Tilak Varma played a composed knock to finish the job. Archer's fiery spell (2/23) gave England brief hope, but the target was too small to defend.

Speaking after the match, Player of the Match Varun Chakravarthy credited his IPL experience for his success on Eden's spin-friendly surface. Meanwhile, Sharma praised the team management for fostering a positive environment, enabling players to perform freely. England skipper Jos Buttler admitted that their batting collapse cost them dearly and emphasized the need for better adaptability in the remaining games.

India will look to build on this dominant performance in the second T20I, while England must regroup quickly to stay alive in the series.