In a highly anticipated match, India's Men in Blue defeated England by seven wickets in the first T20I at the iconic Eden Gardens. With the absence of veteran seamer Mohammed Shami, expectations were high on the three spinners chosen by the team management - Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi, and they did not disappoint. After limiting England to a respectable 132 runs, India batted aggressively in the second innings with Sanju Samson's fiery knock of 26 runs and Abhishek Sharma's blistering half-century of 79 runs. This marked India's seventh consecutive T20I win at Eden Gardens, maintaining their nine-year-old unbeaten record at the venue.
India's Dominance at Eden Gardens: A Triumphant Track Record
The iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata has witnessed some of the most memorable cricket matches in history. Recently, the venue played host to another thrilling encounter as India's Men in Blue outplayed England in the first T20I. This victory extended India's unbeaten streak at Eden Gardens to nine years.
The Match
In the absence of key seamer Mohammed Shami, India's spin trio of Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, and Ravi Bishnoi stepped up admirably. They restricted England to a modest 132 runs, with all three spinners contributing wickets.
In the second innings, India's batsmen came out all guns blazing. Sanju Samson's quickfire 26 set the tone, while Abhishek Sharma's blistering half-century of 79 runs sealed the deal. India chased down the target with seven wickets in hand and secured their seventh consecutive T20I win at Eden Gardens.
Historical Background
India's dominance at Eden Gardens dates back to 2011, when they defeated South Africa in a World Cup quarter-final. Since then, they have remained unbeaten at the venue, winning a total of nine matches in all formats.
Some of the most memorable moments in India's cricketing history have unfolded at Eden Gardens. In 2001, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid orchestrated one of the greatest comebacks in history against Australia. In 2014, MS Dhoni's remarkable 91 not out against Sri Lanka sealed India's victory in the World T20 final.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
1. What is India's win-loss record at Eden Gardens? India has an unbeaten record of 9 wins and 0 losses at Eden Gardens in T20Is.
2. Who is the highest run-scorer at Eden Gardens in T20Is? Abhishek Sharma holds the record for the highest individual score at Eden Gardens in T20Is, with his 79 runs against England in 2023.
3. Who has taken the most wickets at Eden Gardens in T20Is? Axar Patel has taken the most wickets (5) at Eden Gardens in T20Is.
4. What was the first T20I match played at Eden Gardens? The first T20I match played at Eden Gardens was between India and Australia in 2012.
5. Which team holds the record for the highest score at Eden Gardens in T20Is? India holds the record for the highest score (230/3) at Eden Gardens in T20Is, set against Sri Lanka in 2017.
In the series opener, left-handed batter Abhishek Sharma stole the show with a stunning display of power hitting. His unbeaten 79 runs off just 34 balls included eight sixes and five fours, helping India chase down a modest total of 132 with ease. Sharma's incredible hitting was praised by coach Ravi Shastri and his partnership with Sanju Samson proved to be crucial in India's victory. England will have a tough task ahead if they want to level the series in the next match.
In the sports world, Indian all-rounder Axar Patel shines with his performance against England in the first T20I. He picks up two wickets and concedes just seven runs in three overs, including the dismissal of struggling Gus Atkinson. England, in the meanwhile, struggles to put up a good batting performance, setting a target of 132 for India. Follow Sportskeeda for live updates and news on the ongoing T20I series.
In the first T20 match between India and England, the Indian team put on an impressive performance, chasing down a target of 133 runs with ease to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Despite initial struggles against Jofra Archer, Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma put on strong batting displays to help secure the win. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy was the standout player of the match, picking up three crucial wickets and being named Player of the Match. With five more matches to go, the series is sure to deliver more exciting moments.
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England's Jofra Archer was the star of the show as he dismissed both Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav in the fifth over of the match. The seamer delivered a well-directed short ball that caught both batsmen off guard and resulted in their wickets. His efforts were crucial in England's victory as they managed to defend their total of 132, with Jos Buttler scoring 68 runs. India, on the other hand, fell short of their target despite a valiant effort from captain Virat Kohli, who scored 71 runs.
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