India secured a commanding 7-wicket victory over England in the opening T20 international of the five-match series at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, this evening.

Chasing a modest target of 133 runs set by England, India reached the finish line in just 12.5 overs with three wickets down. Star performer Abhishek Sharma played a match-winning knock, scoring an impressive 79 runs.

Earlier, India won the toss and opted to bowl first. England struggled to capitalize on their innings, getting bowled out for 132 runs in the full 20 overs. Captain Jos Buttler was the standout player for England, contributing a solid 68 runs off 44 balls.

The remaining four matches of the series are scheduled to be held in Chennai, Rajkot, Pune, and Mumbai. The final game will take place in Mumbai on February 2. After the T20 series, both teams will shift focus to a three-match ODI series beginning February 6.