India’s spinners, led by the magical Varun Chakravarthy, wove a web of deception to stifle England, restricting them to a modest 132. Then, like a firework illuminating the night, Abhishek Sharma blazed his way to a sparkling 79, steering India to a commanding seven-wicket victory. With this emphatic performance, the hosts claimed a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Dew played a big role in the game and influenced team selection. Winning the toss, India opted to field. While India included two specialist spinners in their line-up, England relied on a three-pronged pace attack. Before the dew took effect, India had England reeling at 65/4. Chakravarthy was able to get the ball to grip effectively, and his spell of 3/23 helped India tighten their hold on the match. At his familiar hunting ground, Eden Gardens, Chakravarthy delivered a spell to remember in front of over 55,000 fans. England’s batters struggled to read his googlies, sparking a batting collapse from which they could not recover.
England’s batting display was nothing short of painstaking as they once again faltered against spin. The team desperately needed a substantial partnership but failed to forge even one. Apart from Jos Buttler, no batter managed to step up.
The England skipper appeared to be playing on a different surface altogether, reading the ball well and adhering to the basics. The wicket wasn’t the easiest to bat on, but Buttler assessed the conditions expertly and adjusted his approach. Despite wickets tumbling at the other end, he anchored the innings, taking charge of the strike as much as possible. Quick to capitalise on anything too full or too short, Buttler made the most of the loose deliveries.
However, the tide turned dramatically in the eighth over when Chakravarthy delivered a double blow, reducing England from a stable 65/2 to a precarious 66/4. This collapse forced England into a rebuilding phase they never recovered from. While Buttler stood firm, the lack of support from his teammates left the innings in tatters.
India’s bowling effort was spearheaded by Arshdeep Singh, who provided a dream start by dismissing Phil Salt and Ben Duckett early on. His performance not only set the tone but also earned him the title of India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is. Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, who conceded plenty of runs in their respective first overs, finished with two wickets each.
Only three English batters managed to reach double figures in a game where everything seemed to align perfectly for India — whether it was the toss, team selection, or field placement. The bowlers were exceptional, and the fielders backed them up brilliantly, ensuring a dominant first innings that laid the foundation for India’s victory.
Although the target was modest, England believed they could make a contest out of it. Jofra Archer set the tone with a fiery opening spell, claiming two crucial wickets during the Powerplay, including that of Sanju Samson. For a fleeting moment, England’s hopes ignited. But Abhishek had other ideas. The southpaw launched a stunning counterattack, effortlessly dismantling the attack. While he was cautious against Archer, Abhishek showed no mercy for the rest of the bowlers, tearing apart their lines and lengths with aggressive strokeplay.
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