The first match of the 5 match T20 series being played between India and England was played at Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata, which Team India won by 7 wickets and took a 1-0 lead in the series. The Indian team was given a target of 133 runs in this match, which they achieved in just 12.5 overs on the basis of Abhishek Sharma's quick innings of 79 runs. Abhishek broke Yuvraj Singh's 18 year old record on the basis of this innings. Abhishek faced only 34 balls during his innings and he also hit a total of 8 sixes.

Abhishek became the Indian player to hit the most sixes in a T20 match against England

Before this match, the record of hitting the most number of sixes in a T20 match against England from Team India was in the name of Yuvraj Singh, who had hit a total of 7 sixes during his 58 run innings in the match played against England at the Durban ground in the T20 World Cup held in 2007. Now Abhishek Sharma has surpassed his 18 year old record and has become the player who has hit the most number of sixes in a T20 match from India against England. Abhishek is now the player who has hit the most number of sixes in a match from both the teams in any T20 match between India and England.

The captain gave me the freedom to play freely

Abhishek Sharma said about his brilliant innings of 79 runs after the first T20 match against England that I just wanted to play my game freely on the field, for which both the captain and the coach gave me freedom. There was a double bounce on this wicket and our bowlers bowled very well. I thought we would get between 160 and 170 runs but the bowlers performed much better. I feel very good in opening with Sanju in which we keep talking to each other continuously. IPL helped me a lot. I have not seen such a team environment where the captain and coach talk to you openly and easily.