India and England, led by Virat Kohli and Eoin Morgan respectively, began their T20 series on Friday (12) in AhmedabadJason Roy’s quick-fire 49 overshadowed Shreyas Iyer’s career-best 67 as England chased down a paltry 125-run target comfortably and won the first T20I against India by eight wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday (12). Having just completed a momentous Test series that determined the second finalist (India) in the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Test Championship, India and England resumed hostilities in a five-match T20I series on Friday as 50% of the Ahmedabad stadium was allowed to be filled with spectators by the Gujarat Cricket Association. The series pits the top two teams in the world against one another, with England, the current occupants of the ICC’s no.1 ranking in T20I cricket, and India, who are sitting just below. A 4-1 series win or better for India will see them rise to the top spot on the ladder, with England slipping down. Given England’s last T20I series loss came way back in 2018, India will have to be at their very best to win the series.

Source: The Nation March 12, 2021 18:11 UTC