Abhishek Sharma scored a 20-ball half-century as India beat England by seven wickets Wednesday in the first T20 of their five-match series. India's opener smacked five fours and eight sixes, scoring 79 off 34 balls,

What was Abhishek's reward after the match? A standing ovation from a capacity Eden Gardens aside, praise from his mentor Yuvraj, albeit in a cheeky way.

Team India got off to a stellar start in the white-ball series against England. Taking on the side in the first T20I of the series in Kolkata, team India managed to defeat the visitors by seven wickets.

The parallels between Abhishek’s performance and Yuvraj Singh’s legendary feats weren’t lost on fans or the cricketing fraternity.

Abhishek Sharma engineered an explosive performance and delivered India's second-fastest fifty for India against England (in terms of balls faced) in the T20I format at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Indian left-handers bashing English bowlers in the T20I format has been a love affair that became famous with Yuvraj Singh's exploits in the 2007 T20 World Cup.

Abhihsek Sharma(Source: DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP via Getty Images) looked in sensational form in India's seven-wicket win in their first T20I of the five-match series against England at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Abhishek Sharma thanked captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir for providing him and other youngsters with the freedom.

Kolkata: Inspired bowling and a 34-ball 79 by opener Abhishek Sharma helped India to a crushing seven-wicket win over England in the first T20 international on Wednesday. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy and fast bowler Arshdeep Singh shared five wickets between them as India bowled out England for 132 after the hosts elected to field first in Kolkata.

Yuvraj Singh playfully lauded Abhishek Sharma for his scintillating knock against England, blending wit with praise, as the young opener's 79-run innings powered India to a commanding seven-wicket victory in the T20I series opener in Kolkata.