The five-match T20 International series between India and England kicked off with the first match held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Wednesday (January 22). England’s playing XI featured three Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) players, but all three had a disappointing outing, with two dismissed for ducks. The lackluster performances of these RCB players in the series opener have raised concerns about their form.
Phil Salt Falls Without Scoring
RCB’s Rs 11.50 crore signing, Phil Salt, entered the IPL 2025 auction as a highly-rated wicketkeeper-opener known for his six-hitting skills. However, in the first T20I, Arshdeep Singh dismissed Salt on just the third ball of England’s innings, leaving him scoreless and the team yet to open their account.
Liam Livingstone Departs for a Duck
Liam Livingstone, acquired by RCB for Rs 8.75 crore as a versatile all-rounder, is celebrated for his explosive batting. Yet, he too faltered in Kolkata, succumbing to a run-out by Varun Chakravarthy without scoring a single run.
Jack Bethell Struggles with the Bat
The youngest of the trio, 21-year-old Jack Bethell, was bought by RCB for Rs 2.60 crore following impressive domestic performances. Despite the hype, Bethell could only manage 7 runs before being dismissed by Hardik Pandya, adding to England’s struggles.
Abhishek Sharma’s fiery innings help India crush England in Kolkata
India secured an emphatic win in the first T20I of the five-match T20I series against England, defeating the visitors by 7 wickets at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens.
After being asked to bat first, England set a modest target of 132 runs, which India chased down comfortably in just 12.5 overs with 3 wickets to spare. Abhishek Sharma starred with a fiery 79-run knock, while Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid picked up 2 and 1 wickets respectively for England.
England will look to bounce back, level the series 1-1, when they take on the Men in Blue in the 2nd T20I on Saturday (January 25) at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
