India showed why they are the world champions with a convincing 7-wicket win over England in the first T20I at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Opener Abhishek Sharma scored a 34-ball 79 as India chased down a modest target of 133 with 43 balls to spare. Sanju Samson added 26, of which 22 came in just one over from Gus Atkinson.

But it was Sharma who stole the show, smashing eight sixes and five boundaries. Jofra Archer was the pick of the English bowling unit with two wickets.

Earlier, captain Suryakumar Yadav made the right call at the toss and his bowlers delivered in style, dismissing the visitors for 132 on a pitch that favoured both spin and pace. India went without Mohammed Shami, whose return after a lengthy layoff was much-anticipated, and played three spinners - Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakravarthy.

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India's Varun Chakravarthy celebrates with Sanju Samson after bowling out England's Harry Brook. Photo: Reuters/ Sahiba Chawdhary

It was Chakravarthy who did the most damage for the English batting unit with three wickets. Axar, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh bagged two wickets apiece. For the visitors, Jos Buttler stood out with a 44-ball 68.

Sanju, who has been going through a difficult period personally after a fallout with his state association, had also been sharp behind the wickets with a stumping, a catch and a smart run out in the last ball of the innings. India and England will play four more T20Is and three ODIs in the lengthy series before next month's Champions Trophy.

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