India Sets Challenging Target of 190 Runs Against England in T20I

In the first T20I match against England, India posted a challenging total of 189/7, thanks to a blistering half-century from Abhishek Sharma and a steady innings from Shreyas Iyer. The match faced a rain delay, leaving England needing 190 runs to win. Discover how the innings unfolded and the key performances that shaped the game.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 2, 2026, 01:53 IST

India's Strong Start in T20I Match

Chester-le-Street [UK], July 2: A remarkable half-century from Abhishek Sharma, combined with a solid performance from Shreyas Iyer, led India to a formidable score of 189/7 in their first T20I against England at the Riverside Ground on Wednesday.

However, the match faced an unexpected interruption as rain forced the players off the field, delaying England's chase.

Choosing to bat first, India maintained their usual opening pair, leaving the highly anticipated debut of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on hold.

The decision appeared to backfire initially, as India's top order struggled under pressure, with Sanju Samson managing only 1 run before being dismissed.

Ishan Kishan also fell victim to a run-out, leaving the team in a precarious position.

In response to the early setbacks, Abhishek Sharma launched a counter-offensive, reviving the innings alongside Shreyas Iyer. He reached his fifty in just 20 balls, ultimately scoring 59 runs off 24 deliveries, featuring four sixes and six fours, before being dismissed LBW by Sam Curran in the ninth over.

After Abhishek's exit, Shreyas Iyer took charge, scoring a composed 67 runs off 47 balls, including six fours and one six. He formed vital partnerships, contributing 36 runs with Tilak Varma (13 off 13) and 41 runs with Shivam Dube.

Iyer's steady performance allowed Shivam Dube to accelerate towards the end, as he scored an impressive 42 runs off just 21 balls, hitting three sixes and two fours, pushing India's total to 190.

In a late-game strategy, Harshit Rana was promoted in the batting order but was quickly stumped by Jos Buttler off Adil Rashid's bowling. Axar Patel was dismissed for just 3 runs on the last ball of the innings.

England now needs to chase down 190 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series, but the start of their innings remains on hold due to the rain.

Brief Score: India 189/7 – Shreyas Iyer 68 (47), Abhishek Sharma 59 (24); Saqib Mahmood 33/3.