India defeated England by seven wickets in the opening T20 International after Abhishek Sharma struck a scorching 34-ball-79 in a display of amazing power hitting supported by a disciplined bowling performance.
India defeated England by seven wickets in the opening T20 International in Kolkata on Wednesday with to a dominating display of power hitting from Abhishek Sharma, who hammered a scorching 34-ball-79 in a demonstration of disciplined bowling. India now has a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. India hammered England for a meager 132 at Eden Gardens, where the average first-innings score is roughly 195, on a day when Gautam Gambhir’s coaching setup made headlines by postponing Mohammed Shami’s eagerly awaited comeback to international cricket.By delivering figures of 3/23, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy was at his lethal best and helped sustain left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh’s record-breaking spell of 2/17.
With his accuracy, Arshdeep not only rocked England but also made history by becoming India’s top wicket-taker in Twenty20 Internationals with 97, beating Yuzvendra Chahal’s 96.
With forty-three balls remaining, India easily reached the mark because to Abhishek’s crisp hitting, which included five fours and eight sixes in a 20-ball half-century. In their third-wicket partnership, he and Tilak Verma (19 not out) displayed remarkable maturity with an 84-run partnership at a strike rate of 200.
Abhishek displayed a wide variety of blows, including a Yuvraj Singh-like flip over fine leg, a backward uppercut for six over third man, and a straight-driven boundary to end the over.
The game was significantly changed by the 18-run over, which also reduced the strain on India.
Tilak Varma and Abhishek played Archer out maturely, and India’s approach to his last over was conservative.On 29, Adil Rashid spilled a crisp return catch, giving Abhishek a lifeline.
Taking advantage of the reprieve, the Indian opener threw caution to the wind and humiliated Rashid.
He put India solidly in control by smashing the leg-spinner for two huge sixes and a boundary in back-to-back deliveries.
Abhishek achieved his half-century in dramatic way by confidently hooking a short ball from Jamie Overton that was traveling at 140.7 kph over fine leg.
India had soared to 100/2 by the midway point, making the aim merely a formality.The flawless execution of plans by Gambhir’s spin troika, who took 5 for 67 in 12 overs between them, validated his judgment.
The three spinners India brought in, Ravi Bishnoi (0/23 in 4 overs), Axar Patel (2/22 in 4 overs), and Chakravarthy, supported record-breaker Arshdeep Singh’s explosive opening spell despite the misty circumstances.
The pace was set by the left-arm quick, who dismissed Ben Duckett (4) and Phil Salt (0) in consecutive overs on his way to 2/17 from four overs.
Chahal’s total was also surpassed by him during his first spell of 3-0-10-2.After winning the toss, stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav cleverly controlled his bowlers, making sure that changes were made on time and taking advantage of their momentum. The dew had little effect, and the pitch provided considerable traction.
Only captain Jos Buttler was able to keep the innings together, which added to England’s problems as they were unable to form partnerships.
To keep England afloat amid the chaos, Buttler (68 from 44 balls) combined power and accuracy in a calm performance that saw him reach his fifty off 34 balls.
After regaining his form at his IPL home stadium after a powerplay, Chakravarthy decisively swung the match in India’s favor.The Kolkata Knight Riders spinner broke England’s resistance by dismissing Harry Brook (17) and Liam Livingstone (0) in quick succession after returning to his IPL home field. Buttler was eventually sent back.
Axar Patel overcame a shaky start to finish with 2/22, including a maiden, while Ravi Bishnoi superbly complimented the attack with a tight spell of 0/22 from his four overs.
Between overs 10 and 15, the spinners took two vital wickets and gave up just 25 runs, dominating the middle overs. The wrist spinners slipped out of the hands of the English batsmen.
Some careless shot selection added to England’s suffering. Hardik Pandya’s first victim, young Jacob Bethell (7), missed a near stumping opportunity off Chakravarthy but was unable to capitalize, mistiming a pull to deep midwicket.
Buttler hit Pandya for four boundaries after he was first expensively blasted for eighteen runs. However, Suryakumar skillfully rotated him, and he bowled well at the end, finishing with 2/42.
Mark Wood was eventually run out for one in the last delivery, bowling out England.
England never quite recovered from Chakravarthy’s twin hits, even if Brook and Buttler launched an early comeback.
