Switching attention from the red-ball to the white-ball format, India intended to kick off the five-match T20I series on a high. Suryakumar Yadav had the luck during the coin toss and elected to field first under floodlights. Just what the doctor ordered, Arshdeep Singh extracted a couple of wickets with the new ball before Varun Chakaravarthy earned a double wicket in the eighth over to push England on the back foot. While Jos Buttler seemed unscathed with the bat, he fell short of partners. With Jacob Bethell occupying the crease for a while, thanks to his luck, coach Gambhir made a subtle impact in the game with his off-field antics.
After a couple on the second ball of the twelfth over, Hardik Pandya bowled back-to-back short stuff that Bethell failed to negate for runs. The next delivery was even shortened, offering room outside the stumps. The left-hander pulled it flat into the hands of Abhishek Sharma at deep mid-wicket, drawing curtains on his knock. Subsequently, the replays focussed on Gambhir who had sent Harshit Rana to send some messages into the field. The coach was seen applauding Hardik for the short-ball ploy against Bethell, making it look like a strategy controlled from the dressing room itself. Gambhir is known as one of the best readers of the game, and the Twitterverse lauded him for the strategy.
Guru Gambhir’s tactical impact
— jithesh (@jithesh1569353) January 22, 2025
Sanj on fire💥
Sanju in Beast Mode 🥵💥#SanjuSamson #INDvENG #INDvsENG #ENGvsIND #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/1aUHneSaNc
— 𝐑𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐱 (@Rionex_) January 22, 2025
On right track!
@simplykalakaar Good start for India. 🇮🇳 🧿#INDvsENG
— ArchieDev 🚶🏾♀️➡️ (@ArchiebyNature) January 22, 2025
Sometimes!
Will Sanju Samson Score 50+ Today Im #INDvsENG
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.#SanjuSamson #suryakumaryadav #INDvENG #abhisheksharma #IndianCricket— Anupam Narayan Dwivedi (@Iamanupam07) January 22, 2025
Most T20I wickets for India
Proud of you always @arshdeepsinghh! 97 T20I wickets, great job. England all out at 132. Team India, keep going… 💪🇮🇳 #INDvsENG
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) January 22, 2025
Superb One!
That Abishek Sharma six to archer, what a hit man WOW.#INDvsENG
— hk (@Messi_10Culer) January 22, 2025
Lightning speed🔥
153.9KPH from Mark Wood!
😵🥵🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥#INDvENG #INDvsENG— Zain (@Zain_Cric) January 22, 2025
On fire!
Wood 🪵 is speeding up ⬆️ and above ☝️
#INDvsENG #INDvENG #ENGvIND https://t.co/jgQzTH53kM pic.twitter.com/skNSkOJm1t— Dilbag Koundal ਦਿਲਬਾਗ ਕੌਂਡਲ 🇮🇳 (@dilbag_koundal) January 22, 2025
Boom!!!
SANJU SAMSON KA SHOW 🤯#SanjuSamson #INDvsENG #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/LiBGsEHlbD
— OP VIN (@vinsaa96) January 22, 2025
Good Over Right!!
Wow what an over by Mark wood,he is fuckin quick man..entertainment #INDvsENG
— Gurpreet Atwal (@AtwalGurpreet07) January 22, 2025