India Dominates England in 1st T20I
India achieved a significant victory in the 1st T20 International against England, thanks to a formidable bowling performance at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. On January 22, 2025, Suryakumar Yadav, leading the team, won the toss and opted to bowl first. This decision paid dividends as India managed to restrict England to a total of 132 runs.
The Indian bowling attack, spearheaded by Arshdeep Singh, stole the spotlight. Despite naming only one specialist pacer in their playing XI, India executed a strategic bowling performance. Arshdeep Singh became the highest wicket-taker for India in T20 Internationals after dismissing Phil Salt and Ben Duckett in the first two overs. Varun Chakravarthy added to England’s woes by dismissing key players including Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, and England’s star batter Jos Buttler.
Jos Buttler anchored England’s innings with a commendable score of 68 runs off 44 balls. However, his efforts were not enough to secure a competitive total for his team. The rest of the English batting line-up found it difficult to navigate against the Indian spin duo of Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya, both bagging two wickets each. England found themselves reeling at 103/7 at one stage, with Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid contributing crucial runs towards the end to push the team’s score past 130.
The match witnessed a dramatic finish when Adil Rashid was run out on the final delivery, causing the English innings to fold at 132 runs. India’s target was set at 133 runs to win.
In summary, the 1st T20I between India and England showcased an impressive performance by the Indian bowlers, particularly Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy. Despite a valiant effort by Jos Buttler, England was unable to post a challenging total. With a target of 133 runs, India looked poised to chase down the score and secure a win in the series opener.
19:30 IST
