Jos Buttler’s first match as England’s full-time white-ball captain did not follow the script he would have imagined, as his team fell to a heavy defeat and he was dismissed first ball.
By the end of England’s powerplay, chasing 199, the outcome was certain. As India found lavish swing (that England never did), Buttler – the world’s in-form T20 batter – was bowled in Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s first over, then Hardik Pandya picked up Dawid Malan and Liam Livingstone in the fifth.
Jason Roy, the other senior batter, was on four from 15 balls after six overs, and was dismissed a ball later, caught at third man off Pandya, who had earlier top-scored with 51 from 33 balls. Finishing with four for 33, he managed a T20i career-best with bat and ball.
Having opted to tweak the shape of their side in the post-Eoin Morgan world, adding an extra bowler (Tymal Mills emerged to bat at No9!), England’s goose was cooked. There was resistance from Harry Brook and Moeen Ali, who shared a jaunty 61, before both fell in the same Yuzvendra Chahal over.
The bad news for England, after a 50-run defeat, is that their task is about to get a lot harder, as India’s Test players – Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant and the like – return for the two matches this weekend. England’s equivalents, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow and a host of injured bowlers, will not be back for a little longer yet.
India’s 198 for eight looked a formidable total – but the damage could have been even worse. With the exception of opener Ishan Kishan, each of India’s top five got in, but none was able to sustain their barrage right to the death. Rohit Sharma breezed away for 24 from 14, Deepak Hooda and Suryakumar Yadav smashed two sixes apiece, while Hardik Pandya launched 51 from 33.
But every time England desperately needed a wicket, they found one. Moeen Ali, playing his 50th T20i, took two in his first two overs (which also bled five boundaries), with Rohit caught behind by a flatter ball and Kishan well taken at short fine-leg.
Hooda and Yadav were charging very threateningly when, in his first over, Chris Jordan found a much-needed breakthrough. Hooda expertly picked out short fine-leg, where Reece Topley (who had taken some tap) took a smart catch. With Pandya quickly into his stride, it took until Jordan’s next over, the 12th, for England to get Yadav, via a smart review that revealed he had gloved behind.
Pandya surged on with Axar Patel, who became Matt Parkinson’s only wicket, as the legspinner dragged it wide, bringing a catch at long-off. Topley returned strongly in his final over, the 18th, and had Pandya caught in the offside shortly after reaching fifty. That prevented India finishing quickly, with Jordan and Tymal Mills also bowling tidy final overs.
For all that it felt like England had fought back, India already had far too many. Brook looked in good touch on his second international appearance, and Moeen flayed a couple of lovely sixes. But both men were dropped, badly, and when Chahal prised them out, it was just a matter of time. Brook was well caught on the fence, then Moeen stumped; Chahal had backed up an outstanding bowling performance from India’s quicks, that had not been backed up by the fielders, who dropped four catches.
From there, a long tail meant England suffered a slow, painful death, with Jordan landing some handy blows. Finally, Ashdeep Singh, who impressed on debut, wrapped up the last two wickets to complete a hammering.
