New Delhi: India rode on Abhishek Sharma’s sensational knock of 34-ball 79 to hammer England by 7 wickets in the 1st T20I and get off to a winning start in the five-match T20I series. Abhishek produced a stellar batting display at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata as he smashed the second-fastest fifty by an Indian against England in T20Is off just 20 balls.
His stunning 79-run knock was laced with 5 fours and a whopping 8 sixes as the swashbuckling left-hander almost single-handedly powered India to victory in the lop-sided contest. Courtesy of his knock, India chased down the target of 133 runs with 43 balls to spare to go 1-0 up in the series. Earlier the Indian bowlers too produced an impressive show during the visitors’ innings.
Left-arm pacer Asrhdeep Singh got the hosts off to a flying start with the new ball after they opted to bowl first in the series opener. Arshdeep got rid of Phil Salt on a duck in the very first over before dismissing Ben Duckett cheaply on 4 in his next over to leave England reeling on 17/2 inside the Powerplay.
Varun Chakaravarthy then spun a web around the visitors with his wizardry. He removed the dangerous Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone inside three deliveries in the 8th over to reduce the visitors to 65/4. Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya too picked up a couple of wickets apiece to help India bundle out England for a paltry 132 and set up the stage for a commanding victory for India.
Fans take a dig at Rohit Sharma after India’s victory
Fans took a dig at India’s ODI and Test skipper Rohit Sharma after India’s thumping victory in the first T20I against England as many highlighted how head coach Gautam Gambhir always does well without the senior batter in the team. Gambhir headed into the T20I series against England under significant pressure after India suffered back-to-back defeats in the Test series against New Zealand and Australia.
However, there were no signs of nerves as the hosts delivered a clinical performance to thrash England at the Eden Gardens to record their 7th win on the trot in T20Is at the venue. Fans wondered if Rohit was the reason behind India’s woeful run as many pointed out Gambhir has yet to win a series when Rohit has been captain and has never lost a series when Rohit has not been the captain.
Unpopular Opinion:
Gautam Gambhir is unbeatable without rohit sharma. 😈 pic.twitter.com/4i4gSfKeuh— Ankit⁶⁴ (@TeamYashasvi) January 22, 2025
Indian team under Gautam Gambhir is unstoppable whenever there is no Rohit Sharma. It’s not so hard to understand who the actual problem is.#INDvsENG
— Anurag™ (@Samsoncentral) January 22, 2025
With Rohit sharma gambhir is yet to win a series.
Without Rohit sharma gambhir is yet to lose a series.
The problem is not the coach it’s the incompetent captain who is haunting us , BCCI needs to wake up and address the real elephant in the room.
— *Roe Joot 😎🇮🇳* (Retired ICT Fan) (@ImGani22) January 22, 2025
Gambhir has not yet lost a series without Rohit Sharma 💀 pic.twitter.com/l3gYx4RHqm
— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) January 22, 2025
Sack Rohit from India. without him Gautam Gambhir seems Invincible https://t.co/uFcR9Z3j8l
— Carnage (@animenation106) January 22, 2025
Rohit endured a poor campaign in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 against Australia where he managed only 36 runs in three Tests at an average of just over 6, the lowest by a touring captain in a Test series in Australia. Rohit, who joined the Indian team from the 2nd Test in Adelaide due to the birth of his son, was also excluded from the playing XI for the final 5th Test in Sydney.
Rohit was replaced by Bumrah as captain after failing to lead India to a single win in three Test matches. While there were rumours about his retirement from Tests, Rohit confirmed he had no plans of quitting the longest format anytime soon. The Indian skipper will be seen in action for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy in the second leg of the tournament which gets underway on Thursday.
Abhishek Sharma slammed a sensational knock of 34-ball 79 as India thrashed England by 7 wickets in the 1st T20I at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday. India recorded their 7th win on the trot in T20Is at the Eden Gardens. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
