Win Projections to be updated soon
1st T20I, Kolkata, January 22, 2025, 07:00 PM
England
132/10(20.0ov)
India
133/3(12.5ov)
India beat England by 7 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Varun Chakravarthy
Commentry
Right then, Brendon McCullum's reign as England's T20I coach has got off to a rocky start and their shortcomings against spin were on display quite a bit. However, it is just Round 1 and we still have 4 games to go in this T20I series. Next up, the teams travel down south to Chennai for the 2nd T20I game. That match will be played on Saturday, 25 January at the MA Chidambaram Stadium and will begin at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT). But as usual, you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Till then, take care and good bye!
Varun Chakravarthy is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his fine bowling effort. He says that he is used to seeing such pitches in the T20 League here and knows what lengths to bowl on. Adds that he wanted to keep the ball away from the hitting arc and bowled a bit short. Reckons that bowling to such batters is always challenging but is glad to be successful today. Mentions that he put in some extra effort to extract some more bounce as he knew, side spin wouldn't cut it on this track.
The captain of India, Suryakumar Yadav says that the energy right from the beginning set the benchmark and they took it from there. Appreciates the bowlers by saying that they executed the plans well. And then adds that the way the batters went was the cherry on the cake. On Varun, he mentions that he is clear in his mind and his preparations are getting better and better. On Arshdeep Singh, he says that he took the responsibility of bowling with the new ball. Adds that having Hardik Pandya bowl with the new ball, allowed them to have that extra spinner in the side. Tells that they have given a lot of freedom to the batters to express themselves and is delighted with the way they are going.
Jos Buttler, the captain of England says that there was a bit in the wicket early which they didn't expect, and lost a couple of wickets but then it turned out to be a belter of a pitch as it usually is here. Adds that they couldn't play the way they wanted to and want to focus on the next game. Applauds the way Jofra Archer bowled and reckons he could have had more wickets and also lauds the way Mark Wood bowled. Buttler says that he is really enjoying the environment and adds that he is a big McCullum fan and loved to watch him as well when he played.
The Presentation ceremony...
Abhishek Sharma, the star with the bat for India is down for a quick chat. He says he just wanted to express himself and mentions that the captain has given them a free hand to attack from the get-go. Also says that it was sticking up a bit and was a double-paced wicket, but credits the bowlers for bowling in the right areas. On being asked about the thought process behind his attacking batting, he says that he just tries to keep it simple and tries to express himself. Again credits the captain for allowing him to play with freedom. Adds that he practiced the trigger movements before the match and knew that the English bowlers would bowl short at him testing his patience, but says he was prepared to take on the challenge.
Earlier in the game, India opted to field first and played as many as three frontline spinners and just one out-and-out pacer on a pitch that everyone thought would aid the pacers. Arshdeep Singh did give India the desired start with a couple of breakthroughs as he became India's leading wicket-taker in T20Is. And even after Jos Buttler went along nicely, England were in a bit of bother. The Indian spinners, led by Varun Chakravarthy ruled the roost in the middle overs and Varun ended up with 3 wickets to his name. Buttler brought up a fine Fifty but didn't get much support as England kept losing wickets and bowed out for just 132, well short of what would have been a par score. In reply, India made a mockery of the chase and chased down 133 runs in just 12.5 overs.
Archer though kept bowling at almost his best and picked up a couple of quick wickets but once again, there wasn't much support from the other end. Also, Abhishek Sharma just started hammering the ball to all parts of the ground and a big chunk of the runs were blown away pretty quickly. England tried a few different things, going quick and short and then they introduced spin as well which didn't have much impact either. The ball was just coming on nicely and Sharma was sending it to the fence again and again. Tilak Varma played second fiddle in an 84-run stand but Rashid did dismiss Sharma for a quickfire 79 off just 34 balls with just 8 runs left for the win. Varma went on to hit the winning runs an over later and India lead the T20I series 1-0.
Chasing 133 runs in 20 overs was never going to be a big deal and the only way India would have lost was if England bowled them out and hence the visitors had to press the issue. Jofra Archer started off well but Sanju Samson took on Gus Atkinson in the next over and it was the bowler's inexperience in these conditions that got India on their merry way as 22 runs came off the second over of the chase.
Back at home, and back to their strongest format, India have absolutely cruised to victory here in the first of five T20Is against England. A top effort with the ball and in the field was backed up by some sensational ball-striking, especially by Abhishek Sharma and England have simply been blown away here.
In over# 13
4
1
0
0
1lb
Mark Wood 25/0(2.5)
12.5
4
EDGED AND FOUR! TILAK VARMA SCORES THE WINNING RUNS FOR INDIA! Aims the stumps, does Wood, on a hard length, Tilak Varma gets inside the line and looks to scoop it up over fine leg, but is beaten by the pace and bounce. Ends up top-edging it over the keeper's head for a boundary. INDIA WIN BY 7 WICKETS AND 7.1 OVERS TO SPARE.
12.4
1
Short again, and into the body, Hardik Pandya climbs on the bounce and works it away to deep backward square leg for a single.
12.3
.
Hard length, rising off the surface outside off, Hardik Pandya looks to slash it away but is beaten by the bounce as the ball passes over his angled bat.
12.2
.
A steep bumper from Wood, targeting the batter's body, but it lands it just flies back to the keeper as Hardik sways out of the line.
12.1
1lb
Cannoned on the pads, full in length, Tilak Varma misses to get any bat and the deflects off the front pad to deep fine. They cross for a leg bye.
In over# 12
2
0W
2
6
0
1
Adil Rashid 27/1(2)
11.6
2
Flighted in and around off. Pandya clears his front leg and goes for the big hit down the ground but the bat twists in his hands and it goes over covers. Lands safe in the deep and they scamper back for the second.
Hardik Pandya is the new batter in.
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