Abhishek Sharma Stuns with Explosive Fifty in 1st T20I Against England
Abhishek Sharma’s thrilling batting lit up Eden Gardens in the 1st T20I of India vs. England. The 24-year-old opener hit a 20-ball fifty. It gave India a 7-wicket win and a 1-0 series lead. Sharma’s knock, which had eight towering sixes, showcased his dominance. He raised his fifty with a spectacular six. It recalled Yuvraj Singh’s iconic performances.
India Dominates the 1st T20I from Start to Finish
India’s bowlers dictated terms after captain Suryakumar Yadav chose to field first. The match began with this. England struggled to build momentum. Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy led the charge.
- England’s Total: 132/10 in 20 overs
- Top Performers (India’s Bowling):
- Varun Chakravarthy: 3/23
- Arshdeep Singh: 2/17
Jos Buttler was the lone standout for England, scoring 68 runs off 44 balls. However, his efforts were not enough. The rest of the English batting lineup faltered.
Abhishek Sharma Goes All Guns Blazing
Chasing 133, India got off to a flying start with Sanju Samson smashing 26 runs in the second over. However, England struck back. Jofra Archer took two wickets in one over, including that of captain Suryakumar Yadav for a duck.
Despite the setbacks, Abhishek Sharma took center stage. He played a blistering knock of 79 runs off just 34 balls. His innings featured:
Abhishek Sharma weaving magic and how! 🪄
Follow The Match ▶️ https://t.co/4jwTIC5zzs #TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IamAbhiSharma4 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/5xhtG6IN1F
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 22, 2025
- 8 Sixes and 5 Fours
- Two Back-to-Back Sixes: Sharma hit Overton for two consecutive sixes. The second one brought up his fifty in style.
Fastest Fifty Rankings vs England in T20Is (by Indians):
- Yuvraj Singh (2007): Fastest fifty in 12 balls
- Abhishek Sharma (2025): Second fastest fifty in 20 balls
- KL Rahul: Now pushed to the third spot
Sharma’s performance was key to India’s fastest T20I chase, against England, with 43 balls to spare.
