Hardik Pandya shines as India defeats England by 50 runs

India skipper Rohit Sharma, who returned to the team after recuperating from Covid-19, was rewarded for choosing to bat first. Rohit got his team off to a solid start by blasting five boundaries in three overs. Moeen Ali dismissed both openers, but India still scored 66 runs in the powerplay. Deepak Hooda and Suryakumar Yadav batted aggressively before falling to Chris Jordan in their 30s.

Hardik Pandya scored his first T20I half-century in 30 deliveries. With Hardik and DK at the crease, India would have targeted 210-220 at 178/5. However, the England bowlers came back in the last three overs, offering only 20 runs and scooping up three wickets. Jordan was England's standout bowler, with numbers of 2/23 off four overs.

England came out to chase the target of 199, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar grabbed the big fish early. Without scoring, he sent Jos Butler back into the hut. In chase of a 199-run target, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and debutant Arshdeep Singh did not let England to settle in the powerplay. Dawid Malan's 14-ball 21 included four boundaries, but Pandya bowled him and then removed Liam Livingstone, leaving England on 29-3. India's swing bowling seemed too much for England, and when Pandya dismissed Jason Roy, he had only four runs from 16 balls.

England never regrouped from the early wickets they lost. India dropped six catches, but Yuzvendra Chahal delivered the vital blows, dismissing both Moeen Ali and Harry Brook to put his team on the verge of victory. Arshdeep Singh, India's T20 debutant, took his first international wicket. The 23-year-old fast bowler dismissed Reece Topley and Parkinson to complete a strong performance by the visitors. Hardik Pandya was India's leading bowler, taking four wickets as the hosts could only make 148 in their sluggish run-chase.