IND vs ENG

10:27 pm local time (10:27 pm IST): So that is all that we have for you from the iconic Eden Gardens! What a superlative performance it was from India! Will they continue in their winning ways or will England stage a comeback and level the series? We will see in Chennai when the action begins at 7:00 pm local time (7:00 pm IST). For now, this is the pair of Soorya and Bidipto taking your leave. Keep following Sportskeeda! 

Varun Chakravarthy (Player of the Match, 3/23 in 4 overs): I'm trying my best to get things right from the start of my mark with ball in hand, it's still a 7 on 10 for me, need to get things done even more, but yes, happy with the progress. It took me 2 years to get this consistency going, hopefully, it stays. Don't think it's easy to beat batters of the caliber of Jos Buttler with side spin on a pitch like this, so over spin or top spin definitely comes in handy! 

Suryakumar Yadav (India captain): (On what pleased him the most) I think the energy on the ground when we started with the ball, and the way we backed it up. (On the selection) We wanted to stick to our strengths, Hardik took the responsibility of bowling with the new ball, so that freed me up. (On what makes Varun Chakravarthy so good these days) Varun Chakravarthy is keeping things really simple! That's his USP! (On Arshdeep) Arshdeep Singh is starting to take responsibility nowadays and that is the sign of a matured bowler. (On the batting performance) I don't necessarily tell Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson too much, but there is a plan to get things moving along, and it's working. We are going ahead in the right direction, the team is clicking well as a unit and well may it continue that way! 

Jos Buttler (England captain): There was a little bit in the wicket early on. Probably didn't expect that - it looked a really good wicket. We lost some early wickets. Once you get through that phase it was a good wicket. We've got some really good players who look to play the kind of game we want to play. We couldn't quite do that today but hopefully we can do it in the next game. (On Archer) He looked really good today. Could have had a few more wickets today. Was nice with Mark Wood also bowling fast. We want to be aggressive and are up against a team that wants to be ultra-aggressive. Need to adapt venue per venue. You're always desperate to do well. Really enjoying the environment and I've been a big McCullum fan during his playing days. Great to have him in the dressing room.

Let's hear from the star of the show, Abhishek Sharma: I just wanted to express myself. I've said this before as well. Special mention to the captain and coach because of the freedom they've given to us. The target wasn't too much but the confidence they've given us youngsters, that's a big difference. It was sticking a bit and there was some extra bounce. It was a double-paced wicket and the way our bowlers bowled was really good. I thought we were going to chase 160-170 but the way we bowled was really good. (On batting alongside Sanju Samson) We've always been talking to each other, we always do this (one of us taking time). I just enjoy at the other end when he's hitting like that. (Game plan) Just to go and express myself. When I first came into the Indian team, the plan was pretty simple. The way I played in the IPL helped me as well. I've never seen a team like this and the captain backing you and asking you to express yourself. From the first day he's told me to go out there and play your shots even if it's the first ball. Coming from the captain, it's big for a youngster like me. I was practising this before this match (giving room against the pacers). I knew they were going to bowl short and check my patience as well. I just had a bit of a plan and executed it really well.

10:00 pm local time (10:00 pm IST): India win by 7 wickets with 43 balls to spare! 

Abhishek Sharma 79 (34) | Varun Chakravarthy - 3/23 (4)
Jos Buttler 68 (44) | Jofra Archer - 2/21 (4)

Against a bowling attack comprising Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton, with T20 World Cup-winning captain Jos Buttler in charge, India managed to knock these runs off inside 13 overs! Yes friends, you read that right! That too, with Archer going at less than 6-an-over. 

There was quite a bit in the wicket for the bowlers and the first over was proof, with Archer conceding only one run against Sanju Samson. But after that, it was carnage from India! Samson got stuck into Atkinson with 22 runs off the second over of the innings and Abhishek backed it up against anything ever so slightly loose against Archer's pace. 

That got both the players going like anything! Be it pace on, or pace off, the ball was travelling! To all parts! Full length, good length, short length, nothing got spared. 

Then came that over from Archer that saw two quick wickets fall, but the moment Tilak Varma stepped out to bat, he meant business! The very first delivery he faced, under pressure, resulted in a boundary over the keeper when he went for a full-blooded shot on the charge! 

Since then, normal services resumed. Both these youngsters took control and smashed the bowling around. Adil Rashid dropped Abhishek and that proved way too costly! The left-hander took him for 16 runs in three deliveries after that! 

The confidence with which these two young guns batted, showed just how this Indian T20 team management thinks! No fear, and a go-getter attitude, even, against a gun opposition! 

England have a lot to think about as they head into their next game but India are already showing them why they are the World Champions in this format! 

12.5 Mark Wood to Tilak Varma, TOP EDGE! FOUR! AND THAT'S THE GAME! Around the wicket and angled in short at the stumps. Tilak is tucked up as he swivels and manages to get some bat. The ball takes the top-edge and balloons over the keeper's leap en route to the fence and India kickstart their T20 run in 2025 just the way they ended it last year. A comprehensive 7-wicket win for the hosts with a whopping 43 deliveries to spare as they go 1-0 up in the series!

12.4 Mark Wood to Hardik Pandya, back of a length and angling into middle and leg stump. Hardik hangs back and glances it before withdrawing his bat as though he wanted to let it go. Rolls to deep square leg for one

12.3 Mark Wood to Hardik Pandya, WHOOSH! Back of a length and well outside the off stump. Flies through as Hardik throws everything at it while losing his shape awfully. Connects with fresh air alone. 150.2 clicks!

12.1 Mark Wood to Tilak Varma, tails into the pads as he goes for the yorker. Way outside leg stump as Tilak fails to jam his bat down. Rolls backward of square off the pads for a leg bye

Mark Wood [2.0-0-20-0] comes back into the attack.

All India need now, is a big hit. But seriously, who would have thought that a young left-hand bat against such high-quality bowling would come up trumps like this? No one, really! 

11.6 Adil Rashid to Hardik Pandya, SAFE! Looped up full outside the off stump and Hardik swings for the bleachers. Takes the leading edge and balloons over extra cover as it drops safely before there's a fumble between the two fielders who catch up with it. Two runs taken!

Hardik Pandya, RHB, is at the crease.

This is one thing that Abhishek has to learn. Once you do all the hard work, finish it off for your side. Maybe it doesn't matter in a situation like this, but it's always better not to leave it to others.