India faced England at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, for the first T20I of the much-anticipated five-match series on January 22, 2025. The match marked the beginning of the white-ball format for both teams in 2025 after they had respective strategic shifts leading up to this series.
Winning the toss, India opted to bowl first, with captain Suryakumar Yadav emphasizing the sticky nature of the wicket and the expected dew later on, making chasing more favorable. He remarked, "The wicket looks sticky, there will be dew later on," as reported by ESPNcricinfo. England's captain Jos Buttler acknowledged the challenge at hand with his team needing to deliver under these conditions, stating, "It’s going to be a challenge, we are right up for it."
The Eden Gardens pitch, known for favoring high-scoring matches, showcased its true colors as India went with three frontline spinners — Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, and Varun Chakravarthy — alongside the pacer Arshdeep Singh as the sole specialist fast bowler.
England's lineup featured notable names like Buttler, who was determined to steer his side through the innings against India's spin-heavy attack. With Phil Salt and Ben Duckett opening, England aimed for explosive starts; Buttler at number three and the inclusion of young talent Jacob Bethell added depth to their batting order.
The match got underway with fireworks as Arshdeep Singh made history, equaling Yuzvendra Chahal's record for most wickets taken by India in T20Is at the outset by dismissing Salt for 0. The pressure mounted on England when Duckett followed soon after, giving India the upper hand with wickets tumbling consistently.
Despite the pressure, Buttler showcased his experience and skill on the sticky pitch. He reached his half-century off just 34 balls, accounting for the majority of England's runs as he struck fiercely against India's bowlers. ESPNcricinfo provided live commentary, noting, "Buttler launched Chakravarthy’s first ball of the over...but Reddy dives forward and takes a catch," which signaled the end of his impressive innings, scoring 68 runs off 44 deliveries.
Although Buttler's score gave England hope, the rest of the batting lineup faltered as Varun Chakravarthy dismantled England's middle order, bagging multiple wickets including those of Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone on consecutive balls. The Indian spinners effectively neutralized any resurgence as England’s innings crumbled, finishing at a mere 110 runs for 8 wickets by the end of the 20 overs.
India's bowlers displayed excellent form and strategy, applying consistent pressure throughout the innings. Arshdeep Singh emerged as the standout performer with early breakthroughs, alongside Chakravarthy, who claimed pivotal wickets to restrict the visitors.
With India chasing down the low total looming, the focus shifted to their batting order, which was equally threatening. Having had tremendous success recently, including winning the T20 World Cup, the Indian squad stepped onto the field with confidence and determination as they aimed to maintain their unbeaten run against England.
The match not only served as the opener for the series but also introduced the freshness of England’s new era under Brendon McCullum, who desires to implement aggressive tactics akin to his Test strategy dubbed as "Bazball." This match will certainly set the tone for the subsequent matchups, as both teams learn and adapt facing each other throughout this series.
India's victory today solidifies their dominance at Eden Gardens, making it clear they aim to continue their winning momentum against England, paving the way for what promises to be high-scoring and competitive fixtures.