Opener Abhishek Sharma's sensational power-hitting secured India's comprehensive seven-wicket victory against England in the opening T20 International at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday. The left-hander clobbered eight sixes and five fours in his scintillating 79 off 34 balls as India chased down a modest 133-run target in 12.

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,

India 133 for 3 (Abhishek 79, Samson 26, Archer 2-21) beat England 132 (Buttler 68, Varun 3-23, Arshdeep 2-17) by seven wickets India brutally cast aside England in the first T20I at Eden Gardens, as Abhishek Sharma's 79 from just 34 deliveries munched a meagre target of 133 with 43 balls to spare.

England's heaviest defeats in terms of balls remaining in T20Is: Not making excuses but lots of Indian mis-hits have landed safely so the score might have been less one sided had we been luckier in that regard. A top-edge pull from Tilak Varma off Mark Wood flies past Phil Salt. India have won by seven wickets with a whopping 43 balls to spare.

Abhishek Sharma smashed his way to 79 off 34 balls and India gave England a hiding in the first match of the five-match T20I series. | Crickit

England take on India in the first of a five-match T20 series in Kolkata today, with Brendon McCullum hoping to make the perfect start leading the side. The match sees England Test coach McCullum in charge of his first match in international white-ball cricket,