A scorching 79 runs off 34 balls from Abhishek Sharma led India to a win over England in the first T20I at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Abhishek took on the prominent England bowlers as India chased down a total of 133 in just 12.5 overs. He also formed crucial partnerships with Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma. The England team, meanwhile, was dismissed for 132 runs in their 20 overs.

Abhishek Sharma showcases his bold shots

While Samson managed the early overs, Abhishek eventually joined him in the aggressive batting. Despite Jofra Archer and Mark Wood challenging Abhishek with some sharp bouncers, the Indian opener showcased his fearless shots. His footwork against veteran spinner Adil Rashid was exceptional as well.

Abhishek concluded his innings with a remarkable 79 off 34 balls, featuring 5 fours and 8 sixes.

Rashid, who had seen Abhishek hit numerous boundaries, eventually managed to get him out.

The left-handed batsman sped to his second half-century, adding to the century he already had.

Currently, Abhishek has accumulated 335 runs from 13 T20Is with an average of 27.91, and his strike rate has soared to 183.06.

Since his T20I debut in 2024, the young batter has almost established himself as India’s key T20I opener.

Abhishek is in outstanding form recently, leading Punjab with 467 runs from eight matches at an average of 58.37 in the 2024/25 Vijay Hazare Trophy, showcasing an impressive strike rate of 130.44.