Venue: Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street

England (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Harry Brook(c), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood

India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy

Harry Brook | England captain: Would've had a bowl, happy with that result. Looks like a

Cricket commentary | England vs India, 1st T20I, India tour of England, 2026

What to expect: The Riverside Ground last hosted a men's T20I in June 2025, when England successfully defended 188 against West Indies. In this season's T20 Blast, batting hasn't always been straightforward, with Yorkshire's 151 against Durham the highest total at the venue, while Durham's 93 all out in the same match remains the lowest. Results have been evenly split between teams batting first and chasing (2-2). On the weather front, rain is forecast through the evening and could lead to a curtailed game.

England have rested Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue for this opening game after they were involved in the Trent Bridge Test just two days back. Luke Wood and Saqib Mahmood will get their chance today.

For India, Varun Chakaravarthy is back in the squad after missing the matches against Ireland while recovering from a foot injury.

India have won the toss and have opted to bat

STAT: The last time India chose to bat first after winning the toss outside Asia was against South Africa at Johannesburg in November 2024.

IND 19-2(3.2)

1.4

W

Saqib Mahmood to Sanju Samson, out Caught by Tom Banton!! Sharp catch at backward point and Samson goes early! Full delivery just outside off, he drives crisply but uppishly, goes to the right of backward point and Banton takes a ripper diving across, grabbing it with both hands. Three single-digit scores in a row for Samson.

Sanju Samson c Tom Banton b Saqib Mahmood 1(7)

1.6

Saqib Mahmood to Ishan Kishan, out Ishan Kishan Run Out!! Kishan in trouble after a mix-up! Had to put in the dive, hurt his chest and now has to talk back as the replay confirms he's short. He's shaking his head on the long walk back. Was totally committed to the run there after knocking the ball to mid-on, came more than halfway down but Abhishek just wasn't interested. Even a desperate dive isn't enough to save him.

Ishan Kishan run out (Harry Brook/Jos Buttler) 0(2)

3.6

Saqib Mahmood to Shreyas Iyer, FOUR, now Iyer joins the party, making it a really big over! 21 off it and India need it! Back of a length just outside off

3.4

Saqib Mahmood to Abhishek Sharma, SIX, he's getting stuck into Mahmood here! Again banged in on a short of length

3.3

Saqib Mahmood to Abhishek Sharma, SIX, short again, smashed again! It's at the body, around chest height, Abhishek swivels across and nails the pull behind square

3.2

Saqib Mahmood to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR, loose delivery, it's short and down the leg-side, and Abhishek puts it away with a cracking pull shot over short fine leg. Swivels across and smashes it

4.4

Luke Wood to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR, so hard to stop when he gets into rhythm! Good length on off, Abhishek clears the front leg, swings hard and hammers it over mid-off

4.3

Luke Wood to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR, and again he goes over backward point!

4.2

Luke Wood to Abhishek Sharma, FOUR, this time he manages to create sufficient room, steps away to the leg-side and carves it over backward point

IND 52-2(5) CRR:10.4

Shreyas Iyer 6 (5)

Abhishek Sharma 44 (16