Abhishek Sharma scored a 20-ball half-century as India beat England by seven wickets Wednesday in the first T20 of their five-match series. India's opener smacked five fours and eight sixes, scoring 79 off 34 balls,

Abhishek Sharma's explosive knock of 79 runs off just 34 balls dismantled England's bowling attack, guiding India to a dominant victory. Chasing the 132-run target with ease, India wrapped up the match in under 13 overs with 7 wickets in hand.

Abhishek Sharma. (Source - Getty Images) is set to partner with Sanju Samson at the top of the order in India's five-match T20I series against England. He was preferred over the swashbuckling Yashasvi Jaiswal for the 20-over leg of the white-ball series.

India made short work of the modest target that England could set at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday, going past the visitors’ below-par 132 in the 13th over with seven wickets to spare. Victory gave Suryakumar Yadav & Co a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.