India vs England, 1st T20I Highlights: Abhishek, Varun, Arshdeep star in dominant 7-wicket win in Kolkata

Right then, Brendon McCullum's reign as England's T20I coach has got off to a rocky start and their shortcomings against spin were on display quite a bit. However, it is just Round 1 and we still have 4 games to go in this T20I series. Next up, the teams travel down south to Chennai for the 2nd T20I game. That match will be played on Saturday, 25 January at the MA Chidambaram Stadium and will begin at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT). But as usual, you can join us a lot sooner for the build-up. Till then, take care and good bye!

Varun Chakravarthy is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his fine bowling effort. He says that he is used to seeing such pitches in the T20 League here and knows what lengths to bowl on. Adds that he wanted to keep the ball away from the hitting arc and bowled a bit short. Reckons that bowling to such batters is always challenging but is glad to be successful today. Mentions that he put in some extra effort to extract some more bounce as he knew, side spin wouldn't cut it on this track.

The captain of India, Suryakumar Yadav says that the energy right from the beginning set the benchmark and they took it from there. Appreciates the bowlers by saying that they executed the plans well. And then adds that the way the batters went was the cherry on the cake. On Varun, he mentions that he is clear in his mind and his preparations are getting better and better. On Arshdeep Singh, he says that he took the responsibility of bowling with the new ball. Adds that having Hardik Pandya bowl with the new ball, allowed them to have that extra spinner in the side. Tells that they have given a lot of freedom to the batters to express themselves and is delighted with the way they are going.

Jos Buttler, the captain of England says that there was a bit in the wicket early which they didn't expect, and lost a couple of wickets but then it turned out to be a belter of a pitch as it usually is here. Adds that they couldn't play the way they wanted to and want to focus on the next game. Applauds the way Jofra Archer bowled and reckons he could have had more wickets and also lauds the way Mark Wood bowled. Buttler says that he is really enjoying the environment and adds that he is a big McCullum fan and loved to watch him as well when he played.

The Presentation ceremony...

Abhishek Sharma, the star with the bat for India is down for a quick chat. He says he just wanted to express himself and mentions that the captain has given them a free hand to attack from the get-go. Also says that it was sticking up a bit and was a double-paced wicket, but credits the bowlers for bowling in the right areas. On being asked about the thought process behind his attacking batting, he says that he just tries to keep it simple and tries to express himself. Again credits the captain for allowing him to play with freedom. Adds that he practiced the trigger movements before the match and knew that the English bowlers would bowl short at him testing his patience, but says he was prepared to take on the challenge.

Earlier in the game, India opted to field first and played as many as three frontline spinners and just one out-and-out pacer on a pitch that everyone thought would aid the pacers. Arshdeep Singh did give India the desired start with a couple of breakthroughs as he became India's leading wicket-taker in T20Is. And even after Jos Buttler went along nicely, England were in a bit of bother. The Indian spinners, led by Varun Chakravarthy ruled the roost in the middle overs and Varun ended up with 3 wickets to his name. Buttler brought up a fine Fifty but didn't get much support as England kept losing wickets and bowed out for just 132, well short of what would have been a par score. In reply, India made a mockery of the chase and chased down 133 runs in just 12.5 overs.

Archer though kept bowling at almost his best and picked up a couple of quick wickets but once again, there wasn't much support from the other end. Also, Abhishek Sharma just started hammering the ball to all parts of the ground and a big chunk of the runs were blown away pretty quickly. England tried a few different things, going quick and short and then they introduced spin as well which didn't have much impact either. The ball was just coming on nicely and Sharma was sending it to the fence again and again. Tilak Varma played second fiddle in an 84-run stand but Rashid did dismiss Sharma for a quickfire 79 off just 34 balls with just 8 runs left for the win. Varma went on to hit the winning runs an over later and India lead the T20I series 1-0.

Chasing 133 runs in 20 overs was never going to be a big deal and the only way India would have lost was if England bowled them out and hence the visitors had to press the issue. Jofra Archer started off well but Sanju Samson took on Gus Atkinson in the next over and it was the bowler's inexperience in these conditions that got India on their merry way as 22 runs came off the second over of the chase.

Back at home, and back to their strongest format, India have absolutely cruised to victory here in the first of five T20Is against England. A top effort with the ball and in the field was backed up by some sensational ball-striking, especially by Abhishek Sharma and England have simply been blown away here.

12.5: Mark Wood to Tilak Varma, EDGED AND FOUR! TILAK VARMA SCORES THE WINNING RUNS FOR INDIA! Aims the stumps, does Wood, on a hard length, Tilak Varma gets inside the line and looks to scoop it up over fine leg, but is beaten by the pace and bounce. Ends up top-edging it over the keeper's head for a boundary. INDIA WIN BY 7 WICKETS AND 7.1 OVERS TO SPARE.

12.4: Mark Wood to Hardik Pandya, Short again, and into the body, Hardik Pandya climbs on the bounce and works it away to deep backward square leg for a single.

12.3: Mark Wood to Hardik Pandya, Hard length, rising off the surface outside off, Hardik Pandya looks to slash it away but is beaten by the bounce as the ball passes over his angled bat.

12.2: Mark Wood to Hardik Pandya, A steep bumper from Wood, targeting the batter's body, but it lands it just flies back to the keeper as Hardik sways out of the line.

12.1: Mark Wood to Tilak Varma, Cannoned on the pads, full in length, Tilak Varma misses to get any bat and the deflects off the front pad to deep fine. They cross for a leg bye.

11.6: Adil Rashid to Hardik Pandya, Flighted in and around off. Pandya clears his front leg and goes for the big hit down the ground but the bat twists in his hands and it goes over covers. Lands safe in the deep and they scamper back for the second.

Hardik Pandya is the new batter in.

11.5: Adil Rashid to Abhishek Sharma, OUT! IN THE AIR...AND NOW IT IS TAKEN! Too little too late for England though! A deceptive googly from Adil, fuller and in front of the off-pole, Abhishek Sharma again charges down the track to hoist it up in the air. But doesn't quite read the wrong'un off Rashid's hand and goes swinging through. It airs off the outer half of the bat and goes in the air towards long off. Harry Brook settles under it and takes a safe catch. Adil Rashid smiles as he gets a wicket finally. Abhishek Sharma goes for a swashbuckling 79 (34).

11.4: Adil Rashid to Abhishek Sharma, IN THE AIR...JUST SHORT! Just sums up England's day! Flat and full on off, Abhishek Sharma comes dancing down the track and whips it aerially, but gets no timing on that one. It sails and dips behind mid-wicket. Jacob Bethell from the deep runs forward and dives ahead but the ball lands a yard ahead of him. 

11.3: Adil Rashid to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Glorious from Tilak Varma! Wrong'un from Adil Rashid, dropped a bit short and outside off, Varma steps out and lofts it with the turn over deep extra cover for a biggie.

11.2: Adil Rashid to Abhishek Sharma, Bowled from the front of the hand, on off and angling away, Varma plays it on the up to covers.

11.1: Adil Rashid to Tilak Varma, Loops this one up, full and outside off, enticing the batter, Abhishek Sharma goes hard at it but mistimes it along the ground to long off for a single.

10.6: Gus Atkinson to Abhishek Sharma, A dot to end and India now need 17 runs for the win. Slips in a wide yorker now, angling it across and nailing it as well, Sharma looks to squeeze it away but misses.

10.5: Gus Atkinson to Tilak Varma, Takes some pace off, bowls it right in the blockhole and on off, Varma clips it away through mid-wicket for a single.

10.4: Gus Atkinson to Tilak Varma, FOUR! Beats the fielder at mid off! Hard length around off, Tilak Varma hangs back and clears the front leg before thumping it just to the left of mid off for yet another boundary.

10.3: Gus Atkinson to Abhishek Sharma, This is bowled well short now and over leg, Sharma gets inside the line and pulls it through square leg for a single.

10.2: Gus Atkinson to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Abhishek Sharma showing he can play the aesthetic shots as well. A bit too full and around off, Sharma leans on and sweetly times it on the up, through extra cover and for a boundary.

10.1: Gus Atkinson to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Abhishek Sharma wants to en this in a hurry. On a good length around the top of off, Sharma stays just leg side of the delivery and swings through the line, lifting it high and handsome over long off for a biggie.

Drinks break! Well then, the pitch has turned out to be a belter as expected early on and India have never let the foot off the gas. England have had to go hard at times in order to manufacture a wicket but it has only been Jofra Archer who has been successful. With just 33 more needed for India in 10 more overs, one cannot imagine England making a comeback. Let's see how things end...

9.6: Liam Livingstone to Abhishek Sharma, Seeing Sharma charging down the track, Liam Livingstone drags the length around off, Abhishek Sharma whips it across to deep mid-wicket for a single to end the over. Also, the 100 comes up for India!

9.5: Liam Livingstone to Tilak Varma, Length ball and Varma pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a comfortable single.

9.4: Liam Livingstone to Tilak Varma, Gives it a bit of more loop, on middle and leg, Tilak Varma skips down the track and inside edges on the flick shot. It lobs off the boots and lands safely in the off side.

9.3: Liam Livingstone to Tilak Varma, Flat and drags down the length, on off, Tilak Varma punches it to short cover.

9.2: Liam Livingstone to Abhishek Sharma, Looped up, full and outside off, Abhishek Sharma drills it down to deep extra cover for a single.

9.1: Liam Livingstone to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Greets Liam Livingstone with a classic boundary! Liam drops a full ball, around off, Abhishek Sharma dances down the track, opens the off side and goes inside-out over covers and wide of long off for a boundary.

8.6: Jamie Overton to Tilak Varma, Full and at the stumps. Varma gets forward and pushes this slower one to the cover region.

8.5: Jamie Overton to Abhishek Sharma, Length, on middle, Abhishek Sharma cuts it along the ground to deep point for one.

8.4: Jamie Overton to Abhishek Sharma, A bit full and on the stumps, Abhishek looks to whip it away but squeezes off the inside edge to mid-wicket.

8.3: Jamie Overton to Abhishek Sharma, IN THE AIR...JUST LANDS BEHIND THE FIELDER! Back of a length, on off, Abhishek Sharma mistimes the pull shot in the air, but lands behind the chasing Jofra Archer at mid on. Archer stretches his hands out while tracking backward, but it lands ahead of him on the bounce. Two taken.

8.2: Jamie Overton to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! FIFTY FOR ABHISHEK SHARMA OFF JUST 20 DELIVERIES! Overton lands it short and on the bodyline, Abhishek Sharma gets inside the line, shapes up for the pull and parks it behind deep fine for a cracking six. A swashbuckling batting display from the young left-hander and he has just taken the English bowling to the cleaners at will and ease.

8.1: Jamie Overton to Tilak Varma, Back of a length, outside off, Tilak Varma waits for it and cuts it a bit uppishly. But the ball lands ahead of the backward point fielder who gets a bad bounce and parries the ball behind for a single.

Jofra Archer is done with his 4 overs and it will be Jamie Overton to replace him in the attack.

7.6: Adil Rashid to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Clean as a whistle! Drops it full and around off, Abhishek Sharma reads the length early gets ahead, and hoists it aerially, and behind the sightscreen! So after the dropped catch, Rashid concedes two fours and a six. A really expensive drop that turned out to be!

7.5: Adil Rashid to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Just clears the ropes! A googly, but lands it right in the slot, on off, Abhishek Sharma dances down the track and lofts it over mid-wicket. The ball sails just behind the leaping Jacob Bethell in the deep for a six.

7.4: Adil Rashid to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Rubbing salt on the wounds! Offers width outside off, on a length, Abhishek Sharma goes inside the crease and cuts it through backward point for a boundary.

7.3: Adil Rashid to Abhishek Sharma, Did that carry? At 91.5 kph, Rashid bowls flat and full, Abhishek chips it straight back to the bowler. Adil Rashid bends low to catch but it goes in and out of his palms.

7.2: Adil Rashid to Abhishek Sharma, A slower one, seam-up delivery, around off and full in length, Abhishek Sharma takes the front foot out and tries to hit it down the ground, but misses. 

7.1: Adil Rashid to Abhishek Sharma, A slider drifting outside off, Abhishek Sharma swings with all his might, but meets thin air.

A slight halt in play! That last delivery from Jofra Archer went off the gloves and straight into the helmet of Tilak Varma and hence a mandatory concussion test followed. All good though and now, Adil Rashid comes into the attack.

6.6: Jofra Archer to Tilak Varma, That is some serious heat from Archer! Bangs the surface hard and gets the ball to bounce and skid quickly on the bodyline, Tilak Varma is pegged back as the ball gets big on him, deflects off the gloves, and then pings his helmet, and lobs off to the off side.

6.5: Jofra Archer to Abhishek Sharma, Length, angling in, towards middle, Abhishek Sharma plays the 'Natraj shot' by lifting his front leg in the air and pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one more.

6.4: Jofra Archer to Tilak Varma, IN THE AIR...JUST SHORT! Skids through on a length, on middle, Tilak Varma backs away to create room and cuts it aerially towards deep backward point. It dips right ahead of Gus Atkinson who stops it on the bounce. Just a single.

6.3: Jofra Archer to Tilak Varma, Short of a good length, rising off the deck, outside off, Tilak Varma leans back and lets it fly back to the keeper.

6.2: Jofra Archer to Abhishek Sharma, Goes fuller and cannons it on off, Abhishek Sharma gets right behind it, opens the bat face and guides it to deep backward point for a single.

6.1: Jofra Archer to Tilak Varma, Around the wickets, back of a length, on off, Tilak Varma taps it off the back foot and gets a single at widish point.

5.6: Mark Wood to Tilak Varma, Length ball on top of middle, Tilak Varma hops across and nudges it along the ground to deep square leg for a single. An expensive over from Wood. 18 runs from it.

5.5: Mark Wood to Abhishek Sharma, IN THE AIR...LANDS SAFE! Hits the deck hard, does Wood, on the stumps, Abhishek Sharma pulls it off the top-edge but the ball lands safely near the deep square leg region. The fielder collects it on the bounce. A single taken.

5.4: Mark Wood to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! SMASHED! No need to run on those! A half-volley at 134.8 kph, on middle, Abhishek Sharma stays deep in the crease and swings hard at it. Smashes it over the bowler's head for the third boundary in this over.

5.3: Mark Wood to Abhishek Sharma, Full and on off, at 152.8 kph, Sharma drills it down the ground but the mid off fielder intercepts it to his left.

5.2: Mark Wood to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Clears the ropes once again! Wood clocks 150.4, and lands it on a length, just outside off, Abhishek Sharma dances down the ground and frees his arms. Throws the bat and goes airborne again. Dumps the ball behind deep third for a cracking six.

5.1: Mark Wood to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! Helped on its way! Back of a length, on the pads, Abhishek Sharma stays inside the line of the ball and uses the pace to flick it aerially behind deep fine for a six.

4.6: Jofra Archer to Tilak Varma, FOUR! Two wickets in the over but no sign of fear from Tilak Varma, Archer won't mind it either. Quick and short, angled across off, Varma steps out and backs away to slash over the off side but gets an outside edge that flies over the slip cordon for a boundary. Entertaining stuff!

So two southpaws in the middle now. Tilak Varma is in at number 4.

4.5: Jofra Archer to Suryakumar Yadav, OUT! CAUGHT! A double-whammy for Jofra Archer and that is reckless from Suryakumar Yadav. Archer takes pace off this attempted bumper and bangs it in well short around middle. Suryakumar Yadav gets a bit across and gets cramped for room while looking to pull. The ball gets skied up off the top edge wide of the keeper and around short fine leg but Archer starts celebrating and Phil Salt does well to run after it and pouch it safely. The Indian skipper departs for a duck and England have some teeth in this contest now.

4.4: Jofra Archer to Suryakumar Yadav, A half-hearted appeal for caught behind from the keeper but nothing doing there. A quick bumper now at 143.8 clicks, in and around off and zipping through. Suryakumar Yadav looks to get across and hook but is well beaten.

4.3: Jofra Archer to Suryakumar Yadav, Takes some pace off that one and bowls it on a hard length around off, Suryakumar Yadav coves the line and keeps it out.

Indian skipper, Suryakumar Yadav walks out to bat now.

4.2: Jofra Archer to Sanju Samson, OUT! CAUGHT! Taken in the deep and Jofra Archer sends Sanju Samson packing. A well-directed short ball from Jofra Archer, over off and middle, angling in around head height. Samson picks the length early and looks to pull off the back foot but is still hurried and ends up pulling it to the right of deep mid-wicket. Gus Atkinson there moves across and comes in a bit to take it low to his right and England have their first wicket. Samson goes for 26 (20).

4.1: Jofra Archer to Sanju Samson, Hard-length delivery, over middle and holding its line, Sanju Samson stays back and clips it away with sweet timing through wide mid-wicket. Jos Buttler from mid on chases it down and flicks the ball in to save a couple of runs.

3.6: Mark Wood to Sanju Samson, Hard length, right around the top of off and just angling in, Samson looks to drive but the ball catches the inside edge and goes well behind square leg for a single.

Change? Nope. Archer to steam in for his third over. He is 2-0-11-0 so far.

3.6: Mark Wood to Sanju Samson, WIDE! A wayward bumper this time arround, banged in short and well down the leg side.

3.5: Mark Wood to Sanju Samson, FOUR BYES! Oh, that is unfortunate for the bowler! Wood serves it on a good length around off, trying to angle it in at a whopping 153.6 clicks. Sanju Samson backs away to heave but is beaten for pace and swing and the ball keeps swinging in, past the diving keeper and rolls away into the fine leg fence.

3.4: Mark Wood to Sanju Samson, Wood is bowling with some real heat out there! Over 142 clicks and banged in short over off, the ball flies off the deck and Sanju Samson is beaten all ends up while looking to pull.

3.3: Mark Wood to Sanju Samson, Sanju Samson hangs back and aims for the big cross-batted shot. Mark Wood sees him and follows him with a fuller one at almost 154 clicks, Samson swings and toe-ends it toward mid on.

3.2: Mark Wood to Sanju Samson, Hits the deck hard again and angles it in over the top of off, Sanju Samson stays on the back foot and plays it late towards backward point.

3.1: Mark Wood to Sanju Samson, Well timed and equally well stopped! Banged in on a hard length around off and at 148.3 clicks. Samson hangs back and punches it to the right of Ben Duckett at covers and he makes a sharp stop.

More raw pace has been deployed now. Mark Wood is introduced into the attack. He replaces Gus Atkinson.

2.6: Jofra Archer to Abhishek Sharma, Excellent fielding! Back of a length and angled into the body, Sharma hops and tucks it wide of mid-wicket looking for a single but has to scurry back as the fielder there makes a sharp stop and even scores a direct hit at the keeper's end. Would have been close had he targeted the other end where Samson was a bit late to retreat back home.

2.5: Jofra Archer to Abhishek Sharma, SIX! That went as quickly as it came in! Short of a good length and just outside off, Sharma stays put against and just shows great hand-eye coordination before slam-dunking it over the cover fence for a biggie.

2.4: Jofra Archer to Abhishek Sharma, Top comeback delivery from Archer! Hard length in the channel, over 143 clicks, and gets the ball just seam in a touch with some quick and extra bounce, Abhishek Sharma has a poke at it but gets beaten.

2.3: Jofra Archer to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR! Flailed away for a boundary! Short of a length and slightly wide outside off, Abhishek Sharma stays put and throws his hands at it, slicing it up and over point for a boundary to get off the mark.

2.2: Jofra Archer to Abhishek Sharma, Hard length on off, angled in at 144 clicks, Sharma stays compact and pushes it down towards cover looking for the quick single but Samson sends him back.

2.1: Jofra Archer to Abhishek Sharma, Well bowled! Abhishek Sharma is early to back up and Archer slips in a quick yorker wide outside off, Sharma fails to reach it and it zips through to the keeper.

1.6: Gus Atkinson to Sanju Samson, FOUR! The easiest of them all and 22 runs come off that over. Attempted slower one, down the wrong line and on the pads, Samson just nudges it wide of short fine leg and picks up yet another boundary.

1.5: Gus Atkinson to Sanju Samson, FOUR! Sanju Samson is taking Gus Atkinson to the cleaners now. On the fuller side and on off, angling in, Samson brings out the on drive but plays it a lot squarer and well wide of mid on for a boundary.

1.4: Gus Atkinson to Sanju Samson, SIX! Wow, that is a shot! Short and wide from Gus, Sanju Samson steps out early, backs away a bit and smacks it just in front of square on the off side and all the way for a biggie.

1.3: Gus Atkinson to Sanju Samson, Beaten! Pitches the ball further up and around the fifth stump line, hint of away shape on it as well, Samson plays a loose shot away from the body and is beaten.

1.2: Gus Atkinson to Sanju Samson, FOUR! That is a top shot! Good-length delivery, around the top of off, Sanju Samson just prods halfway and punches it on top of the bounce, through covers, and for another boundary.

Gus Atkinson is not very happy with the landing area. Hence, the umpires have called for some sawdust to be sprinkled. One of the men from the ground staff rushes out with a bucket of sawdust and sprays it on the landing area as it seems to a bit slippery because of the dew settled on the ground. We are good to continue now.

1.1: Gus Atkinson to Sanju Samson, FOUR! All the hard work done by Archer is undone! Way too short and over the stumps, Sanju Samson sets up early for the short ball and swivel-pulls it away well behind square leg for a boundary.

Gus Atkinson to operate with his express pace from the far end.

0.6: Jofra Archer to Sanju Samson, No maiden! Good length and in the channel around off, a hint of shape on it as well, Sanju Samson just bunts it out in front of covers and scampers through for a single to close out the first over of the chase.

0.5: Jofra Archer to Sanju Samson, The ball is zipping off the deck nicely here! Archer hits the deck hard and bowls it around off, Samson hangs back but is late on the cut and miscues it just past the deck on the off side.

0.4: Jofra Archer to Sanju Samson, Four dots to start from Archer and the pace is right up there as well. Back of a length, over middle and at 146 clicks, Samson tries to back away but gets hurried again and gets an under edge back to the deck.

0.3: Jofra Archer to Sanju Samson, The first one that is banged in. Not all that short and just angled in at the rib cage, Samson gets hurried but manages to tuck it down wide of short leg.

0.2: Jofra Archer to Sanju Samson, Goes even fuller does Archer, angling it back onto the off stump at 141.4 clicks, Samson jams it out and plays it back to the bowler.

0.1: Jofra Archer to Sanju Samson, Archer starts off with a fuller delivery, around the fifth stump line and at 146 clicks. Sanju Samson mistimes the drive on the up and straight to mid off.

Welcome back for India's reply with the bat. The umpires and players are out to the middle. Players of England have taken their respective fielding positions as well. Now, out walks the Indian opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Jofra Archer has been given the new ball and will kickoff the proceedings in this chase. Off we go...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Well then, India need 133 to win, but it won't be a cakewalk as they will come up against some fiery English pace attack. England knows that they won't get home without picking all ten wickets and would target to claim a few in the fielding restrictions to exert pressure from the get-go. But the question is, how will the English bowlers, especially the spinners tackle against the dew? And also, how will the Indian openers negotiate that early movement with some express pace? An exciting run-chase is coming up. Do not mistake to see this as a lopsided affair, folks. 

With the departure of Buttler on 68, England were at the scare of getting bundled up before 20 overs, but Adil Rashid and Jofra Archer played some lusty blows and propelled England past 130. So, was there really something for the spinners? Didn't look like it. But seeing their figures tells a different story, because the English batters didn't read the bowlers well and just threw wickets away. Out of 12 overs, all three spinners conceded less than run-a-ball and shared 5 wickets among them.

However, the middle overs saw England's familiar struggles against spin resurface. Despite the pitch offering minimal assistance to the spinners, the English batters struggled to read the wrong'uns, leading to a dramatic collapse. The middle order crumbled rapidly, leaving England in dire straits at 103/7. This large collapse forced Buttler to adopt a more cautious approach as he attempted to bat through the innings, hoping to give his team something to defend, but fell soon after in order to keep things accelerated from one end.

Harry Brook and Buttler then attempted to steady the innings, with the latter continuing to punish anything in his hitting zone. Buttler looked like he was batting on a completely different surface, but what he did correct was, that he read the ball well and kept it simple, sticking to the basics. However, the momentum shifted dramatically when Varun Chakravarthy struck a double whammy in the eighth over, reducing England from a comfortable 65/2 to a precarious 66/4, demanding a rebuilding phase.

The opening spell from Arshdeep Singh proved lethal as he exploited the conditions brilliantly that set the stage for a lethal spell. He claimed both Salt and Duckett during the field restrictions utilizing the movement and bounce of the surface. However, England captain Jos Buttler countered with an aggressive approach, particularly targeting Hardik Pandya's loose deliveries. This contrasting display of batting helped England reach 46/2 by the end of the Powerplay.

So, just a meager 132 on the board from England. A commanding bowling and fielding display from India has limited the visitors to a score that is well below par. Looking at the scorecard, it won't be an exaggeration to say that it was Jos Buttler versus the Indian bowlers. Only three batters managed to cross double figures, with none of them, barring Buttler being able to cross beyond 20s. For the rest, it was just a procession to follow.

19.6: Hardik Pandya to Adil Rashid, OUT! RUN OUT! Adil Rashid misses but Sanju Samson doesn't and England are bundled out for 132 on the final delivery on the inning. Hardik Pandya goes pace on and bangs it in a bit wide of the off stump. Rashid looks to fetch and slog it away across the line but is beaten for pace and bounce. The batters try to sneak in a bye but Samson keeps his cool and under-arms the ball onto the stumps. Mark Wood is run out by a long way!

19.6: Hardik Pandya to Adil Rashid, WIDE! Poor delivery! Too full and a bit too wide outside off, slower as well, Adil Rashid leaves it alone.

19.5: Hardik Pandya to Mark Wood, Takes pace off again and bowls it on a good length wide outside off, Mark Wood hangs back to go big but mistimes it wide of mid off for a single.

Mark Wood is the last man in for England!

19.4: Hardik Pandya to Jofra Archer, OUT! CAUGHT! Straight up and taken! Hardik Pandya bangs it in halfway down the pitch and gets the line wide of off stump as well. This one sticks in the pitch a bit and Jofra Archer has to really reach for it. Archer goes through with the attempted uppercut but miscues it in front of square on the off side. Suryakumar Yadav at covers takes a simple catch and England lose their 9th wicket.

19.3: Hardik Pandya to Jofra Archer, Pitches it up full and well outside off again, Jofra Archer stays deep in the crease and toe-end the lofted shot over mid off and picks up a couple of runs more.

19.3: Hardik Pandya to Jofra Archer, WIDE! Untidy stuff so far from Pandya! Slower ball, bowled short again and pushed well outside the line of off stump for a wide.

19.2: Hardik Pandya to Jofra Archer, FOUR! Lucky but they all count! Banged in well short and outside off, it seemed like the leg cutter as well, Archer steps out to go after it and gets a top edge over short third and into the fence for a boundary.

19.1: Hardik Pandya to Jofra Archer, Good running! Bowled slow and short, wide of the off stump, Jofra Archer stands upright and slaps the ball away in front of sweeper cover for a couple of runs. Hardik Pandya feels Abhishek Sharma should have kept it down to a single there.

Hardik Pandya (3-0-31-1) to wrap up the first inning.

18.6: Arshdeep Singh to Jofra Archer, Pitched-up delivery, bowled very full and around off, Aarcher fetches it and heaves it away in between long on and deep mid-wicket for a single.

18.5: Arshdeep Singh to Jofra Archer, Appeal for LBW but the impact seemed outside off! Bowled from wide of the crease and angled back in a long way, nailing it in the blockhole. Jofra Archer gets across the off stump but fails to heave it away and gets hit on the back boot. Arshdeep Singh seems interested and they eventually do take the review. The third umpire is called in and there's nothing on UltraEdge and Ball Tracking does show that the impact was well outside off. NOT OUT!

18.4: Arshdeep Singh to Adil Rashid, Slower one, misses the yorker on middle and serves a full toss instead, Rashid swats it without much timing, up and over mid on for just a single.

18.3: Arshdeep Singh to Adil Rashid, Comes from around the stumps now, and digs in a proper bumper, angling it in from around off, Adil Rashid ducks under it well.

18.2: Arshdeep Singh to Adil Rashid, FOUR! Beautifully done by Adil Rashid! Slower delivery, bowled on a good length and wide outside off, Rashid goes deep in the crease and waits well before lofting it over the cover region for a boundary.

18.1: Arshdeep Singh to Jofra Archer, Pitches the ball up around off, Jofra Archer hangs back in the crease and goes after it with an open stance, hammering it to covers for a single.

Arshdeep Singh comes back to finish his spell. 3-0-10-2 so far.

17.6: Axar Patel to Adil Rashid, Flatter one, sliding on with the arm and onto middle and leg, Rashid gets pegged back but manages to keep it out.

17.5: Axar Patel to Jofra Archer, Nice and full, flighted up wide outside off, Jofra Archer leans across and strokes it through the cover region for another single.

17.4: Axar Patel to Adil Rashid, Bowled shorter and over middle, Rashid hops onto the back door and pushes it through mid on for one more.

17.3: Axar Patel to Jofra Archer, Flatter one, pushed through on middle and cutting back in, nudged away to fine leg off the inside edge down for a single.

17.2: Axar Patel to Adil Rashid, Tossed up, on a length and around middle, slogged away to deep square leg for a single by Rashid.

17.1: Axar Patel to Adil Rashid, Holds it back a touch and floats it up on a nagging length around off, Adil Rashid watchfully keeps it out.

16.6: Varun Chakravarthy to Jofra Archer, A dot to end and Varun Chakravarthy finishes with figures of 4-0-23-3! Nagging length, flighted up on the stumps, Jofra Archer leans right on to block but gets hit on the pads instead.

16.5: Varun Chakravarthy to Adil Rashid, Drags the length back again and Rashid just works it off the back foot through the mid-wicket region for a single.

16.4: Varun Chakravarthy to Adil Rashid, Bowled fuller now and right at the stumps, Rashid tucks it away to mid-wicket.

16.3: Varun Chakravarthy to Adil Rashid, Bowled on a shorter length and over leg, Adil Rashid looks to press back and nudge it away but fails to do so.

Adil Rashid is in at number 10.

16.2: Varun Chakravarthy to Jos Buttler, OUT! TAKEN! Nitish Kumar Reddy with yet another fine catch and Varun Chakravarthy has his revenge. This is fired in short again but quicker and at the batter's body. Jos Buttler is hurried a bit as he looks to pull off the back foot once again and ends up pulling it over square leg. Reddy charges in from the deep and dives in front to take a fine low catch with both hands and the same is confirmed on the replays. A huge blow for England as Buttler's fine knock of 68 comes to an end. 

16.1: Varun Chakravarthy to Jos Buttler, SIX! Jos Buttler seems to be batting on a different pitch out there. On the shorter side and angled in at the body, Buttler is quick to rock back and backs away to smash the pull over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Jofra Archer walks in at number 9. Also, a change in bowling as Varun Chakravarthy comes back on. He is 3-0-16-2 so far.

15.6: Axar Patel to Gus Atkinson, OUT! STUMPED! Never looked like settling down did Gus Atkinson and England lose their 7th wicket. Atkinson is early to charge down the track and Axar Patel sees him coming, drags the length back and fires it in flat and wide. Atkinson ends up just running past the ball and it is an easy stumping for Sanju Samson behind the stumps. Gus Atkinson goes for 2 (13).

15.5: Axar Patel to Gus Atkinson, FOUR BYES! Beats everyone and everything! Fired in full and quick on middle and leg, this one slides in with the angle, Gus Atkinson brings out the heave but misses. The ball goes past the leg stump, evading the keeper and into the fine leg fence.

15.4: Axar Patel to Gus Atkinson, On the shorter side and around off, Atkinson stays put and punches it away straight to covers. The pressure keeps building up.

15.3: Axar Patel to Gus Atkinson, Just a bit shorter now, angled in over middle, Atkinson plays all over it and gets hit on the pads. Another dot!

15.2: Axar Patel to Gus Atkinson, Flatter delivery, on a length and around off, Atkinson tries to be cheeky and goes for the reverse sweep but gets an inside edge off the pads to point.

15.1: Axar Patel to Gus Atkinson, Can't find the gap! Length ball, sliding back in from outside off, Gus Atkinson backs away and drives it straight to cover.

14.6: Ravi Bishnoi to Gus Atkinson, On middle and on a length, Gus Atkinson steers it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

14.5: Ravi Bishnoi to Gus Atkinson, Dishes out another googly, at the pads, Gus Atkinson tries to smash the pull shot but gets it off the bottom end of the bat. Falls near the strip.

14.4: Ravi Bishnoi to Gus Atkinson, A flatter wrong'un on a good length, turning back in, Gus Atkinson rocks back and knocks it back to the bowler.

14.3: Ravi Bishnoi to Gus Atkinson, Slightly outside off, on a good length, Gus Atkinson hits it to short cover off the toe-end.

14.2: Ravi Bishnoi to Gus Atkinson, A googly, on middle, Gus Atkinson works it off the inside half to mid-wicket.

14.1: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, Slower through the air, drifting on the pads on a length, Buttler hangs back and steers it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

13.6: Axar Patel to Gus Atkinson, Flat and full, around off, pushed towards cover.

13.5: Axar Patel to Jos Buttler, This is an arm ball, angling in from outside off. Buttler punches it to long on for a single.

13.4: Axar Patel to Gus Atkinson, An in-drifter, on the pads, worked through square leg for a single.

Gus Atkinson is the new batter in.

13.3: Axar Patel to Jamie Overton, OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Axar gets his first and England lose their sixth wicket! Slows it up, does Axar and drops a fuller-length delivery, on the stumps. Jamie Overton gets low and tries to hit it aerially straight down the ground. But tries to hit it too hard and loses his shape and does not quite reach to the pitch of the ball. As a result, the ball slices off his bat and balloons up in the air. It hangs up for a long time and sails towards the deep cover region. Nitish Kumar Reddy there takes a safe catch in the deep.

13.2: Axar Patel to Jamie Overton, Full and at the stumps. Overton gets ahead with a good stride out, and blocks it.

13.1: Axar Patel to Jos Buttler, Axar is back on! OH NEARLY CAUGHT! Short and angling in on off, Jos Buttler mistimes it straight and lobs it towards the left of the bowler. Axar Patel stretches his left hand out to pluck it but it just goes wide of his fingers for a single at long off.

12.6: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, On that in-between length, on middle, Jos Buttler tucks it across to deep mid-wicket for a single to end the over.

12.5: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, FOUR! In the gap! Precise placement from the English skipper! Not that all a short ball, but around off, flat and quick. Jos Buttler gets everything - width, height and pace as he rocks back and cuts it past cover for a boundary.

12.4: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, Right in front of the stumps, slow and full, Jos Buttler blocks it forward.

12.3: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, FOUR! SHOT! Good aggressive intent! Bishnoi drops it around off, a half-volley, there to be hit, Jos Buttler leans on it and smashes it wide of long off for a cracking boundary. The long off fielder stands no chance to cut it out. That's hit with brute force.

12.2: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, Length, flat and on off, Jos Buttler slaps it hard, but straight to mid off.

12.1: Ravi Bishnoi to Jamie Overton, A slider, dragged down on a length, Jamie Overton clips it to deep backward square leg for a single.

11.6: Hardik Pandya to Jamie Overton, Back of a length around off and middle. Overton tucks it off his hips to deep fine leg for a single.

Jamie Overton is in at number 7.

11.5: Hardik Pandya to Jacob Bethell, OUT! IN THE AIR AND CAUGHT! Hardik bangs it hard onto the surface, around middle and leg, nipping back in. Jacob Bethell stands tall, weighs on the back foot, and tries to pull it behind the deep mid-wicket region. However, the line is too close and hence, Bethell doesn't generate enough timing to power it behind the ropes. It goes flat and straight into the safe hands of Abhishek Sharma stationed at deep mid-wicket. A scratchy inning comes to end for Jacob Bethell! Half of England's side is in the dugout now. Also, Hardik moves into the 90s with respect of wickets in the T20Is.

11.4: Hardik Pandya to Jacob Bethell, Seeing Bethell shuffling outside leg to give himself some room, Hardik rolls his fingers and bowls it closer to the batter, following him. Jacob Bethell misses to work it through the off side and misses. The ball passes threateningly over the stumps.

11.3: Hardik Pandya to Jacob Bethell, Back of a length, on off, Jacob Bethell stabs it onto the surface.

11.2: Hardik Pandya to Jacob Bethell, Oh, almost chopped on! On fourth stump, length, Jacob Bethell tries to cut it away but ends up getting an inside edge. It bounce past the leg stump and runs down to deep fine for two.

11.1: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, Hardik is back into the attack now! Bowls a slower bumper, nipping back into the batter, Jos Buttler waits and pulls it down to the leg side for a quick single. FIFTY NUMBER 26 FOR JOS BUTTLER IN THE T20IS! He has held one end masterfully and will look to see his side through this innings.

10.6: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, Overpitched, flat and on off, quicker at 102.4 kph, Jos Buttler drills it down to long off for a single.

10.5: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, Slower, on the stumps, Jos Buttler sits to slog but inside edges it to the leg side.

10.5: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, WIDE! A googly, going down leg, Buttler misses to steer to the leg side. Wide called.

10.4: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, A drag-down slider, on middle, Jos Buttler hangs back and punches it to cover.

10.3: Ravi Bishnoi to Jacob Bethell, Touch short and around off, Jacob Bethell slashes it to the cover region for a single.

10.2: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, Pushed through, fuller and on middle and leg, Buttler inside edges it to the mid-wicket region. They collect a single by the time Bishnoi scoots and collects the ball.

10.1: Ravi Bishnoi to Jacob Bethell, Short of a good length, on off, Jacob Bethell hits it a bit uppish while dragging it from outside off. Gets a single at long on.

10.1: Ravi Bishnoi to Jacob Bethell, WIDE! A wrong'un, flat and going outside the tramline, Jacob Bethell reaches to punch through covers but misses. Wided.

DRINKS BREAK! Quite a pacy first ten overs in this season opener! Jos Buttler and Brook had formed a solid stand for the third wicket, but their momentum was halted by Varun Chakravarthy's double whammy. While Jos Buttler is still out there batting fearlessly, England will look upon him to bat till the end and help them post a commanding total. All they need is a resolute and resistant stand in these mid-overs. While for India, a couple of more wickets from here will surely put them in a commanding position. Meanwhile, the ropes are brought in to clear up the dew from the ground.

9.6: Varun Chakravarthy to Jacob Bethell, On the shorter side and at the stumps, punched away off the back foot through mid on for a run. England are 74/4 at the halfway mark.

9.5: Varun Chakravarthy to Jacob Bethell, Pushed through quicker and around leg, Jacob Bethell brings out the reverse flick but falls over a bit while going for it. The ball just clips the gloves and the half appeal for LBW is quickly turned down.

9.4: Varun Chakravarthy to Jos Buttler, Tossed up fuller now and on middle and leg, Buttler heaves it away down to long on for a single.

9.3: Varun Chakravarthy to Jos Buttler, Dropped short and outside off, Jos Buttler cuts it firmly and in front of square towards the deep but Rinku Singh is quick to cut it off and keeps it down to a couple of runs.

9.2: Varun Chakravarthy to Jacob Bethell, Short ball, angled in over middle, Jacob Bethell gets inside the line to ramp but misses. The ball goes off the keeper and to short fine leg as the batters pick up a bye.

9.1: Varun Chakravarthy to Jacob Bethell, NOT OUT! Sharp glovework from Sanju Samson but Jacob Bethell escapes by the barest of margins. Varun Chakravarthy comes around the wicket and tosses it up, not all that full and Bethell is drawn forward. The ball just turns away and beats the outside edge as Samson whips off the bails. The third umpire is called in and confirms that there was some part of the back foot inside the crease. Maybe if Samson had waited a fraction more because Bethell did leave the crease after the bails were taken off.

Is that stumped out? The TV umpire has been summoned to check it. Bethell misses out on the outside edge and Samson collects it behind the wickets. Dislodges the bails in a jiffy. It is touch and go, but the umpire reckons that Bethell's back foot is dragged just inside the popping crease. NOT OUT!

Change? Nah, Varun Chakravarthy to continue! He is 2-0-12-0 so far.

8.6: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, Ooh, beaten! After a flurry of wrong'uns, a proper leggie to end the over. Pushed through quick and outside off, Jos Buttler looks to back away and cut but is well beaten.

8.5: Ravi Bishnoi to Jacob Bethell, Short ball outside off, sitting up for the batter, Jacob Bethell stays put and slaps the ball away to deep point for another single.

8.4: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, Nagging length, bowled from the front of the hand again and angling it onto the pads, Buttler presses back and tucks it through backward square leg for one more.

8.3: Ravi Bishnoi to Jacob Bethell, On the shorter side again and outside off, Bethell sits down and cuts it square through the point region for a single.

8.2: Ravi Bishnoi to Jacob Bethell, Drags the length well short and angles it well outside off, Jacob Bethell reaches for it and taps it towards cover. That should have been put away.

8.1: Ravi Bishnoi to Jos Buttler, Starts off full on off, Buttler takes the front leg out and drives it firmly down to long on for a single.

Change? Yes, more spin. Ravi Bishnoi has been introduced into the attack now. He replaces Axar Patel.

7.6: Varun Chakravarthy to Jacob Bethell, Around the wicket to the left-hander, tossed up around middle, Jacob Bethell leans on and watchfully blocks it off.

England's young sensation, Jacob Bethell is in at number 6.

7.5: Varun Chakravarthy to Liam Livingstone, OUT! TIMBER! Another top delivery from Varun Chakravarthy and England are 4 down already. That in-between length from Varun, bowled around off and it is the big wrong'un once again. Liam Livingstone backs away a fair bit past the leg stump and brings out the cover drive but is beaten on the angle and the ball castles into the leg stump. Varun Chakravarthy is pumped and Livingstone departs for a two-ball-duck! England is reduced from 65/2 to 65/4 within the span of just two balls. 

7.4: Varun Chakravarthy to Liam Livingstone, Tossed up, quite full and around off, Liam Livingstone just about manages to push it out.

Liam Livingstone is in at number 5.

7.3: Varun Chakravarthy to Harry Brook, OUT! PLAYED ON! Nicely bowled but a tad unlucky there for Harry Brook. Varun Chakravarthy goes a bit wide of the crease and serves the wrong'un, on a length on off, turning it in. Brook stays back and just gets leg side of the ball, trying to create some room but the ball angles in, takes the inside edge and goes onto the pads before eventually going onto the stumps. The bails fall off and the 48-run stand between Brook and Buttler has come to an end. England are 65/3 after 7.3 overs!

7.2: Varun Chakravarthy to Harry Brook, FOUR! A touch of class there from Harry Brook! Not all that short, a tad wide and Brook just rocks back and cuts it so late and wide of short third for a boundary.

7.1: Varun Chakravarthy to Harry Brook, Nicely bowled! Varun sees Brook stepping out and shortens the length, angling it in at the batter. Brook misses and the ball just clips the pad before rolling to backward point.

6.6: Axar Patel to Jos Buttler, Another good piece of fielding in the deep. Good length, sliding on from the fifth-stump line, Buttler leans on and caresses the drive on the up and the ball races across the turf but Arshdeep Singh covers good ground from sweeper cover to his right and dives in to save a couple of more runs.

6.5: Axar Patel to Jos Buttler, SIX! Jos Buttler hasn't put a foot wrong thus far! Fractionally short on middle, angling in, Buttler picks up the length early, rocks back and pulls it over cow corner for another biggie.

6.4: Axar Patel to Harry Brook, Darted in with the arm, onto middle and leg, flicked away in front of square leg for a single.

6.3: Axar Patel to Harry Brook, Sees the batter coming this time and fires it in full and straight, Brook jams it back to the bowler.

6.2: Axar Patel to Harry Brook, SIX! Axar gives this one a bit more air and floats it around off, Brook uses his feet well and stays leg side of the ball before lofting it away over wide long off for a biggie.

6.1: Axar Patel to Harry Brook, On a length, bowled flatter and aimed in at the off stump, Harry Brook blocks it off.

Here's Axar Patel into the attack for the first time. He replaces Arshdeep Singh!

5.6: Varun Chakravarthy to Jos Buttler, Top effort in the deep from Nitish Kumar Reddy. Tossed up on a good length and outside off, Jos Buttler thrashes it away back past the bowler and to the right of long off where Reddy sprints across and dives in to save a couple of runs for his side. England are 46/2 after the Powerplay.

5.5: Varun Chakravarthy to Harry Brook, Darted in full and straight at the stumps, Brook digs it out wide of mid on and scampers through quickly for the single. Good running in the end.

5.4: Varun Chakravarthy to Harry Brook, FOUR! Oh, that's streaky! Floated up full and outside off, Hardik Pandya looks to fetch and slog it over mid on, against the turn but gets an inside edge past the stumps and the ball rolls away into the fine leg fence.

5.3: Varun Chakravarthy to Harry Brook, Brook is down on the ground! Dragged length outside off, angling it well in, Brook gets inside the line to play the lap but misses and the ball just goes over the stumps.

5.2: Varun Chakravarthy to Jos Buttler, Pushed through flatter this time and around middle, Jos Buttler leans on and strokes it down to long on for a single.

5.1: Varun Chakravarthy to Jos Buttler, Starts off on a fuller length, angling it in from around middle, Buttler clips it off the inner edge and towards short fine leg.

Varun Chakravarthy comes into the attack now.

4.6: Arshdeep Singh to Harry Brook, An appeal for caught behind but only Arshdeep Singh is interested from the Indian camp! Oh, wait! they have gone upstairs! Arshdeep looks very convinced hence, Suryakumar Yadav opts for a review! Length ball, across off, deviating a shy bit away from the batter, Harry Brook misses to heave across and the ball shoots past his bat. Sanju Samson collects it safely behind. UltraEdge shows no bat involved and Brook will continue to bat on!

4.5: Arshdeep Singh to Harry Brook, Sharp bumper, across off, Harry Brook opts out of the pull shot and lets it be.

4.4: Arshdeep Singh to Jos Buttler, Hurls it fuller and around off, Jos Buttler gets forward and pushes it to mid off for a quick single.

4.3: Arshdeep Singh to Jos Buttler, Full, and aiming the off-pole, Jos Buttler strides across and drives it firmly to cover.

4.2: Arshdeep Singh to Harry Brook, Gets off the mark, does Brook! In a streaky way though! Bangs it into the surface, on middle, sliding back in a touch. Harry Brook stands tall and tries work it across but inside edges on the thigh pad and it rolls to the off side. A quick single taken.

4.1: Arshdeep Singh to Jos Buttler, Too short, cutting across the batter, on off, Jos Buttler shapes to pull but it goes off the outside edge through cover-point for a single.

3.6: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, Short of a good length, on top of middle, Jos Buttler pulls it along the ground and beats the diving mid-wicket fielder for single.

3.5: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Delicate! A loosener, on the pads, Jos Buttler uses the pace and just gives it a bit of a tickle using his wrists. Gets it past deep fine leg for a boundary. Buttler is flying!

3.4: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, FOUR! WHAT A CRACKER OF A SHOT! Too short, on top of off, Jos Buttler shapes well by weighing on the back foot, and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary.

3.3: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, Whoa, what happened here? Hardik bowls it slow, full and on off, Jos Buttler plays it early and nearly chips it back towards the bowler. It lobs off the outer half of the bat and just dips ahead of Hardik Pandya who collects it on the bounce and throws it instantly back at the striker's end. 

3.2: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, FOUR! And again! Hardik being taken to the cleaners here! A mirror-image of the previous delivery! Bowls it at the pads, does Hardik, Jos Buttler leans and flicks it past deep square leg for another boundary.

3.1: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Buttler won't stop! This is a fine, fine shot from the English skipper! Angling into the batter, on a hard length, Jos Buttler uses his wrists and just flicks it along the ground, through the vacant square leg region for a boundary. 

3.1: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, WIDE! He will have to reload that one again! Sprays it down leg on a length, Jos Buttler misses his flick and the ball goes behind to the keeper. 

2.6: Arshdeep Singh to Harry Brook, A SNORTER! Lands it on a good length, it then cuts across the batter, deviates away and beats Harry Brook's outside edge on the way to the keeper! 

Harry Brook is the new batter in.

2.5: Arshdeep Singh to Ben Duckett, OUT! HIGH UP IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! A four and out for Ben Duckett! A seam-up delivery, positioning towards the slips, fuller in length and curving away from outside off. Ben Duckett tries to give it a whips across and over the leg side, but closes his bat face a bit too early in this process. Hence, a thick healthy leading edge is found. The ball flies high in the air, and over the cover region. Rinku Singh backtracks running a few yards. Locks his eyes on the ball and takes a fine catch. He is pumped up and so are the Indians as England slip to 17/2. Arshdeep Singh gets his second wicket and he now stands alone at the summit in terms of T20I wickets taken by Indian bowlers with 97 wickets.

2.4: Arshdeep Singh to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Off the mark, is Ben Duckett, in some innovative fashion! Hard length, outside off, Ben Duckett first shapes to scoop it up but decides to play with the swing and reverse scoops it over short third for a boundary. 

2.3: Arshdeep Singh to Ben Duckett, BEATEN! An away shape from a good length, just outside off, Ben Duckett plays inside the line to defend, but the ball leaves him and zips past the outside edge.

2.2: Arshdeep Singh to Ben Duckett, A slip in place for Duckett! Brings the stumps into play, does Arshdeep, touch full and nips back in, on middle and leg, Ben Duckett is half-forward to block but inside edges it onto his pads.

2.1: Arshdeep Singh to Jos Buttler, Back of a length, cutting back in off the deck, on middle, Jos Buttler hops across and tucks it towards deep backward square leg for a single.

1.6: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, Touch full and on the stumps, Jos Buttler skips forward and pushes it in front of mid on for a quick single. Three from the first, and nine from the second! A power-packed start from both sides!

1.5: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Not exactly where he intended to hit, but he will take it! An away swinger from Hardik, outside off on a fuller length, Jos Buttler tries to smash the cover drive, goes with hard hands but gets a leading edge that flies up and over backward point for a boundary!

1.4: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, A sharp inswinger, from outside off and coming back towards the off-stump line, Jos Buttler prods forward and drives it straight to the cover fielder.

1.3: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, On a hard length, on off at 133.4 kph, Jos Buttler opens the bat face and eases it towards point.

1.2: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Enough, says Jos Buttler! Gets the first boundary for his side! An overpitched-delivery, on middle and off, Jos Buttler comes dancing down the track and smashes it straight down the ground for a cracking boundary!

1.1: Hardik Pandya to Jos Buttler, Hardik begins from over the stumps, with a slip in place! Gets an away movement, on a hard length, around off, Jos Buttler strides ahead, and pushes it towards cover.

Hardik Pandya to share the new ball with Arshdeep Singh.

0.6: Arshdeep Singh to Jos Buttler, Length ball, curling back into the right-hander, from a good length, on leg, Jos Buttler misses to glance it across and the ball deflects off his thigh pad, to run toward the square leg region. They do get a quick leg bye. End of the first, England are 3/1.

0.5: Arshdeep Singh to Jos Buttler, BEATEN! Outside off on a length, nipping away off the deck, Buttler hangs his bat away from the body with his feet going nowhere. Plays inside and the ball teases past his outside edge.

0.4: Arshdeep Singh to Jos Buttler, England and Buttler are underway! Around off and fuller this time, gently deviating away. Jos Buttler presses half-forward to block and it goes off the other half of the bat towards short third. A misfield from Varun Chakravarthy there allows them to scamper back for the second!

Jos Buttler walks in at number 3 for England.

0.3: Arshdeep Singh to Phil Salt, OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Arshdeep Singh strikes in the very first over for India! Pitches it outside leg from over the wickets, and lands it on a shortish length. The ball lands and rises with the bounce, cutting a bit back into the batter. Phil Salt is left flummoxed by the excessive bounce and hops to negotiate against it, but takes off his eyes while getting across. Ends up top-edging it high up in the night sky. The ball swirls up and over the keeper. Sanju Samson runs forward and settles under it. Pouches it safely in his mitts. England lose their first pretty early as Salt goes for a three-ball duck! Also, with his 96th T20I wicket, Arshdeep joins Yuzvendra Chahal with the most T20I wickets for India.

0.2: Arshdeep Singh to Phil Salt, Steams in, now gently moves the ball the other way, on a length, on middle and leaving the batter, Phil Salt rises with the bounce and punches it to the cover-point region.

0.1: Arshdeep Singh to Phil Salt, On the money, is Arshdeep! Gets the bowl to curve back into the batter, on a length, around middle and leg. Phil Salt misses to tuck it across and wears it high on the front thigh pad.

Done and dusted with the pre-match formalities and it is now time to get the play underway. Jhulam Goswami, the legendary former Indian pacer, who has a stand named after her at this ground, rings the bell marking the start of play. It will be the duo of Phil Salt and Ben Duckett to open the innings for England. Arshdeep Singh has the new ball in hand and raring to go. Let's play...

We are just a few minutes away from the start of this contest. However, first up, the officials walk out to the middle followed by the two sets of players and they all line up for the national anthems. It will be the national anthem of England first, followed by the Indian national anthem.

India (Playing XI) - Sanju Samson (WK), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.

England (Playing XI) - Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (WK), Jos Buttler (C), Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood.

The captain of England, Jos Buttler says there's a little bit of dew around so they would have bowled as well. Adds it is one of the great cricket grounds to play around and it is always an honor to be in India. Also says that everyone's in a good spot, and also a lot of guys have experience playing franchise cricket in this part of the world and expect it to be a good game of cricket. Mentions they are looking forward to take on a good Indian side and are right up for it. Feels that both sides are ultra-aggressive and aims to put on a great show. Informs that Saqib Mahmood, Brydon Carse, Rehan Ahmed and Jamie Smith are the guys missing out.

The captain of India, Suryakumar Yadav says that they will bowl first and adds that the wicket looks a bit sticky and the dew will come into play. Adds that the boys joining in from Australia have a different energy and the preparations have been good. Reckons that it will be good competition between the two sides and informs that the likes of Mohammed Shami, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana miss out.