1st T20I: Suryakumar Yadav Highlights Team's Energy Post Toss Win

Kolkata, Jan 22 (NationPress) Following a dominant victory over England by seven wickets, securing a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series, India's captain Suryakumar Yadav commended the team's enthusiasm for excelling in every facet of the game. At Eden Gardens on Wednesday, the bowlers, spearheaded by Varun Chakaravarthy with figures of 3-23, delivered an exceptional performance, dismissing England for just 132 runs. In response, Abhishek Sharma scored a remarkable 79, leading India to chase down 133 runs in less than 13 overs.

"The energy after winning the toss was the standard we aimed for. Our bowlers had strategies and executed them flawlessly, and our batting was just the cherry on top. We had a similar approach in South Africa, where Hardik took on the responsibility of bowling the new ball, allowing us to utilize an extra spinner more comfortably," Suryakumar remarked post-match.

He further added, "Varun's preparations are spot on, and Arshdeep is stepping up with added responsibility. We are given a lot of freedom to play differently. Fielding is an area we are focusing on diligently. We aim to capitalize on half chances to make a significant impact."

For England, this marked the beginning of a new era in white-ball cricket under Brendon McCullum's guidance, but it started on a subdued note. Captain Jos Buttler acknowledged that the batting display was not as anticipated. "There was some assistance for the bowlers early on, which we didn't foresee. It appeared to be a solid pitch, but they found movement, and we lost a couple of early wickets. However, once through that phase, it should be a good batting surface, especially at a fast-scoring venue like this."

Buttler expressed, "We have some outstanding players, and we aimed to impose our game plan, but today we fell short against quality bowling. We are learning from this experience and look ahead to the next match."

On Jofra Archer's performance of 2-21, Buttler commented, "He always looks impressive, being a superstar, and he seemed capable of taking more wickets. Mark Wood also bowled with excellent pace. Seeing both operate together is thrilling." Buttler concluded by assuring that England would display their aggressive style in future matches. "We aim to be aggressive and entertaining. We face a team that is also ultra-aggressive, which makes it very exciting."

"We need to gauge the conditions at each venue and perform accordingly. I'm thoroughly enjoying the environment here. I have always been a fan of McCullum, even during his playing days, so it's fantastic to work alongside him in the dressing room now."