Wed Jan 22 17:05:17 UTC 2025: ## India Thrash England in Kolkata T20I Opener
**Kolkata, India** – Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 79 off 34 balls powered India to a commanding seven-wicket victory over England in the first T20I of their five-match series at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday. Sharma’s blistering innings, which included six sixes and eight fours, overshadowed a lone hand of 68 from England captain Jos Buttler.
India’s bowlers had earlier restricted England to a below-par 132, with Varun Chakravarthy leading the attack with 3/23. Arshdeep Singh (2/17), Axar Patel (2/22), and Hardik Pandya (2/42) also contributed significantly to the impressive bowling performance. The win marked Arshdeep Singh’s ascension to the top spot as India’s highest T20I wicket-taker, surpassing Yuzvendra Chahal’s previous record.
Chasing a modest 133, India made light work of the target, reaching the finish line with 43 balls to spare. Sharma and Sanju Samson (26) provided a solid start, putting on a 41-run partnership before Samson’s dismissal. Sharma continued his assault, reaching his fifty in just 20 balls before eventually falling to Adil Rashid. Tilak Varma hit the winning runs.
The victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the series, setting the stage for an exciting contest in the matches to come. England will need to significantly improve their batting performance to challenge the strong Indian side.
First Piper 