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Persistent rain forced the opening T20 International between India national cricket team and England cricket team to be abandoned after India posted a competitive 189 for 7 at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday, denying the hosts any chance to begin their run chase.
The match was called off well before the final cut-off time for a reduced-overs contest as heavy rain continued to fall following India’s innings. Although light drizzle had interrupted play throughout the visitors’ innings, the weather worsened after the innings break, making it impossible for play to resume.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, India recovered impressively from an early collapse to post a challenging total. They were reduced to 6 for 2 after Sanju Samson was dismissed for just one and Ishan Kishan was run out for a duck on the very day he climbed to the top of the T20I batting rankings.
India managed only 15 runs in the first three overs of the powerplay before opener Abhishek Sharma launched a stunning counterattack. The left-hander raced to a half-century in just 20 balls, the fastest T20I fifty by an Indian batter in England, breaking the previous record of 27 balls set by KL Rahul at Manchester in 2018.
Abhishek smashed 59 off only 24 deliveries, striking six fours and four sixes before being trapped lbw by Sam Curran. During his explosive knock, he also became the fastest batter from a Full Member nation to reach 100 sixes in T20 cricket, achieving the milestone in 785 balls and surpassing the previous record held by Evin Lewis.
Captain Shreyas Iyer, who had struggled during India’s recent T20 series in Ireland, anchored the innings with a composed 68 from 47 balls. His knock included six boundaries and a six, providing stability after the early setbacks.
Late in the innings, Shivam Dube added valuable momentum with an unbeaten 42 from just 21 balls, featuring three sixes and two fours, helping India finish on 189 for 7.
For England, Saqib Mahmood was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 33 runs, while the rest of the attack struggled to contain India’s middle-order recovery.
England, however, never had the opportunity to test the target as relentless rain washed out the contest before a single ball of their innings could be bowled.
The second match of the five-match T20I series will be played in Manchester on Saturday.