A superb KL Rahul century put India one up in T20I series against England at Old Trafford in Manchester on Tuesday.
The elegant right-hander, coming in at the fall of Shikhar Dhawan’s wicket in the first over, knocked up a magnificent 101 off just 54 balls to guide India past England’s total of 159 for 8.
India finished with 163 for 2 off 18.2 overs with Rohit Sharma contributing 32 and captain Virat Kohli 20 not out.
Earlier Kuldeep Yadav had put England in a spin taking a stunning 5-24 from his four overs to help restrict the hosts in the first of three T20s .
Best for England were Joss Buttler with 69 runs off 46 balls, who opened with Jason Roy 30 from 20. The only other England batsman to contribute was all rounder Savid Willey with 28 off 15, with both Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root stumped by Ms Dhoni off Yadav for golden ducks.
Kohli won the toss before play and decided to bowl first. The visitors included Rahul, Suresh Raina and Umesh Yadav in the playing XI.
Eoin Morgan‘s men swept aside Australia 5-0 in the recent ODI series before winning the one-off T20 too. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli‘s men come into the series on the back of two comprehensive wins over Ireland in the T20 format.
Injury issues have affected both teams with England having to do without the services of all-rounders Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes while India will have to manage without Jasprit Bumrah and Washington Sundar.
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