Abhishek Sharma scored a 20-ball half-century as India beat England by seven wickets Wednesday in the first T20 of their five-match series. India's opener smacked five fours and eight sixes, scoring 79 off 34 balls,

Abhishek Sharma thanked captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir for providing him and other youngsters with the freedom.

Abhishek Sharma's explosive 79 off 34 balls, studded with 8 sixes and 5 fours, spearheaded India's emphatic seven-wicket victory over England in the first T20I at the Eden Gardens. Supported by disciplined bowling performances,

Abhishek Sharma scored 79 runs off just 34 balls, which included eight sixes and five fours. He completed his fifty in just 20 balls.

Inspired bowling and a 34-ball 79 by opener Abhishek Sharma helped India to a crushing seven-wicket win over England in the first T20 international on Wednesday. Sharma kept up the batting blitz to take the sting out of the England bowling.

Abhishek Sharma's explosive 79 off 34 balls led India to outplay England and secure a seven-wicket victory in the first T20I. Varun Chakravarthy and Arshdeep Singh shone with the ball, with Suryakumar Yadav managing bowlers efficiently.

Jos Buttler's England could not put up a fight as they struggled against Indian spinners and could not capitalise in the middle overs.

Abhishek Sharma's explosive knock of 79 runs off just 34 balls dismantled England's bowling attack, guiding India to a dominant victory. Chasing the 132-run target with ease, India wrapped up the match in under 13 overs with 7 wickets in hand.

Abhishek Sharma. (Source - Getty Images) is set to partner with Sanju Samson at the top of the order in India's five-match T20I series against England. He was preferred over the swashbuckling Yashasvi Jaiswal for the 20-over leg of the white-ball series.