India kicked off the England tour of India 2025 with a dominant performance, defeating England by 7 wickets in the 1st T20I held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The match saw a stellar performance by Abhishek Sharma, whose quickfire 79 runs off 34 balls set the tone for India’s comfortable chase.
Abhishek Sharma’s Explosive 79 runs
Abhishek Sharma was the star of the match, delivering a scintillating innings. His aggressive batting included 5 fours and 8 sixes, with a staggering strike rate of 232.35. Sharma’s innings accounted for 86.07% of his runs coming through boundaries, making him the standout performer of the night.
He brought up his half-century in just 20 balls and continued to dominate England’s bowlers before being dismissed by Adil Rashid in the 12th over. By then, India was well on its way to victory, needing just 8 more runs to seal the game.
Stats of Abhishek Sharma’s Innings
| Stat | Details |
|---|---|
| Runs | 79 |
| Balls Faced | 34 |
| Fours | 5 |
| Sixes | 8 |
| Strike Rate | 232.35 |
Match Summary
England’s Innings
England’s batting lineup struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack and was bundled out for 132 runs in 20 overs. Jos Buttler was the lone warrior, scoring a fighting 68 off 44 balls, while the rest of the lineup failed to make a significant impact.
| Top England Performers | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jos Buttler | 68 | 44 | 154.55 |
| Harry Brook | 17 | 14 | 121.43 |
| Indian Bowlers | Overs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 4 | 2 | 4.25 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | 4 | 3 | 5.75 |
| Axar Patel | 4 | 2 | 5.50 |
India’s Chase
India chased down the target with ease, finishing at 133/3 in 12.5 overs. While Abhishek Sharma anchored the innings with his explosive knock, contributions from Tilak Varma (19* off 16) and Sanju Samson (26 off 20) ensured a steady chase.
| Top Indian Performers | Runs | Balls | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | 79 | 34 | 232.35 |
| Sanju Samson | 26 | 20 | 130.00 |
| Tilak Varma | 19* | 16 | 118.75 |
| England Bowlers | Overs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jofra Archer | 4 | 2 | 5.25 |
| Adil Rashid | 2 | 1 | 13.50 |
Expert Views
- Zaheer Khan: “Abhishek Sharma’s boundary-hitting ability and fearless approach are exactly what India needs in T20 cricket.”
- Michael Vaughan: “India’s dominance, led by Abhishek, highlights their strong batting lineup.”
