I sat down to watch the England vs India 1st T20I at Chester-le-Street with high expectations. The Riverside Ground had a buzz. The crowd was loud. The conditions were overcast. Then the match started, and within two overs, I thought India were done. Six runs. Two wickets. Sanam and Kishan gone. Abhishek Sharma walked in with the game slipping away.
What followed was something else entirely. A counter-attack that left England's bowlers scrambling. A captain's knock that showed real character. And then the rain arrived, robbing us of what could have been a thrilling chase.
I watched every ball of India's innings. Here's my honest take on everything that happened. I hate cricket in the rain. Not just a little. I absolutely despise it.
There I was, settled on my couch. Tea in hand. Ready for a proper contest between bat and ball. England vs India. Chester-le-Street. Series opener. The atmosphere on TV was electric. Then the first two overs happened.
India were 6 for 2. Samson gone. Kishan run out. I thought to myself – here we go again. Another Indian batting collapse. Another match slipping away.
But Abhishek Sharma had other plans.
The Toss and What It Meant?
Shreyas Iyer won the toss. He chose to bat first.
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Overcast conditions. Green pitch. Most captains would have bowled first. Iyer backed his batters. Bold call.
It nearly backfired.
That Dreadful Start
Sanju Samson walked in. He walked back.
One run. A simple catch to Tom Banton at backward point. Saqib Mahmood got him. India were 5 for 1.
Two balls later – disaster.
Ishan Kishan tried a quick single. Abhishek Sharma sent him back. Too late. The bails came off. Kishan was gone for a duck. India were 6 for 2.
I remember leaning forward. This felt all too familiar. The Ireland series ghosts were back. Kishan had two ducks in two matches. Samson kept failing.
Then Abhishek did something unexpected.
He attacked.
Abhishek Sharma – The Game Changer
Abhishek Sharma decided caution was overrated. He smashed everything.
59 runs off 24 balls. Six fours. Four sixes. Pure brutality.
Luke Wood had no answers. Mahmood got hit for 4, 6, 6 in one over. Abhishek hammered Wood for three consecutive fours.
The record: He became the fastest batter from a Full Member nation to reach 100 sixes in T20Is. His fifty came in 20 balls.
What made it special: He didn't slog wildly. He read lengths. He picked his spots. Clean hitting. No luck involved.
Sam Curran eventually trapped him LBW. But the damage was done. India had raced to a strong position.
Iyer's Calm Response
When Abhishek fell, India needed someone steady.
Shreyas Iyer delivered.
68 runs off 47 balls. Six fours. One six. Classic anchor innings.
He didn't try to copy Abhishek. He rotated strike. Found gaps. Kept runs flowing.
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Milestone: Iyer crossed 5,000 international runs during this knock. Important for a captain under pressure.
Key partnerships:
This was captaincy with the bat. He held things together.
Dube's Finishing Kick
Shivam Dube provided the final push.
42 not out off 21 balls. Three sixes. Two fours.
India were 165 for 5 when Iyer fell. Dube added 24 runs in the last few overs.
Total: 189 for 7 in 20 overs.
Without Dube, India would have struggled to reach 170. His cameo mattered.
The Rain Arrives
Then the rain came.
Not a drizzle. Proper rain. Heavy. Relentless.
The covers came on. The outfield turned into a pond. The clock ticked down.
The cut-off time: They needed a five-over chase to get a result. They never got there.
Official decision: Match abandoned. No result.
England never faced a single ball. India never got to defend their total.
Frustration level: Maximum.
Quick Match Stats
| Aspect |
Details |
| Match |
England vs India, 1st T20I |
| Venue |
Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street |
| Date |
July 1, 2026 |
| Toss |
India won, elected to bat |
| India Total |
189/7 in 20 overs |
| Top Scorers |
Shreyas Iyer 68, Abhishek Sharma 59, Shivam Dube 42* |
| Best Bowler |
Saqib Mahmood 3/33 |
| Result |
No result (rain abandoned play) |
| Series Status |
Level 0-0 |
What This Match Tells Us?
India's Batting Depth
From 6 for 2 to 189 for 7. That takes guts.
Abhishek Sharma is the real deal. His attacking approach changed the game. Iyer showed maturity. Dube finished strong.
Concern: Samson and Kishan are struggling. Two ducks in two matches for Kishan. Samson keeps getting starts and failing to convert.
England's Bowling Issues
Saqib Mahmood took 3 for 33. Good spans.
But the others were expensive. Luke Wood went for 42 in three overs. Adil Rashid was economical but wicketless.
Problem: Too many easy runs. The middle overs lacked control.
The Missed Opportunity
England never got to bat. We'll never know what they could have chased.
Would they have chased 190? Possibly. Their batting line-up is strong. But we'll never find out.
What's Next in the Series?
| Match |
Venue |
Date |
| 2nd T20I |
Old Trafford, Manchester |
July 4 |
| 3rd T20I |
Trent Bridge, Nottingham |
July 7 |
| 4th T20I |
The Oval, Bristol |
July 9 |
| 5th T20I |
Ageas Bowl, Southampton |
July 11 |
What I'm watching:
-
Can Abhishek Sharma repeat his heroics?
-
Will Samson and Kishan find form?
-
How will England's batters respond?
-
Will the rain stay away?
What Stood Out?
Abhishek's Fearlessness
He walked in at 6 for 2. Most youngsters would have played safe. He went for the kill. That takes courage.
Iyer's Leadership
He didn't panic. He anchored. He backed his players. This innings was a statement.
Dube's Power
His hitting in the death overs was brutal. Clean strikes. No fear.
My Honest Take
This match was a gut punch.
Not because India lost. They didn't lose. Not because England won. They didn't win.
Because we got robbed of a proper contest.
India fought back brilliantly. They posted a challenging total. Then the rain ruined everything.
What I'll remember:
What I won't remember:
What I'd Like to See Next?
For India:
-
Stick with Abhishek Sharma. He's special.
-
Give Samson one more chance. He's too talented to drop.
-
Iyer should continue this aggressive approach.
For England:
-
Their bowlers need to find more control.
-
The batters need to be ready from ball one.
-
They missed a chance to test themselves. Next match, they won't.
For the fans:
