India Suffers Early Wickets in T20I Series Opener Against England

W Overs1.6

Score6 - 2

Saqib Mahmood to Ishan Kishan, OUT! KISHAN IS RUN OUT! Disaster for India. Length ball from Mahmood, Ishan Kishan just pushes it down to mid on and sets off for the single. Abhishek Sharma sends him back and Kishan is scampering to save his life. Harry Brook throws it to the keeper as Kishan brings out the dive. Jos Buttler whips off the bails and replays confirm that the batter is short of his crease. Kishan is absolutely fuming as he walks back. India are 6/2 after 2 overs.

W Overs1.4

Score6 - 1

Saqib Mahmood to Sanju Samson, OUT! CAUGHT! Top catch, and Sanju Samson's sluggish run continues. Saqib Mahmood hammers it on a good length and a bit wide outside off. Samson drives away from the body and fails to control it. The ball goes off the outer half of the blade and quickly to the right of backward point, where Tom Banton springs across and takes a one-handed blinder. India are 6/1 already.

Righto, all in readiness for this five-match T20I series to get rolling in Durham. The umpires are out in the middle. Harry Brook leads his troops out as the English players spread across the park to take their fielding spots. And now comes the Indian opening pair - Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. It's windy out there with overcast skies. The weatherman winks at the seamers. And it will be Luke Wood to bowl the first over. Samson will take the strike. And we have a slight delay right away. Probably it is an issue regarding the sightscreen. Right, just about ready. Here we go...

The skipper of England - Harry Brook says that they would have bowled first if they had won the toss, so it's not a bad toss to lose. On the mood in camp and adapting to the T20 format, Brook says the atmosphere is really positive and the group is excited to get going against a strong Indian side. He adds it is good to be back with the lads, and notes that switching between formats quickly is simply part of the job as a cricketer. On the wealth of experience in the squad, Brook says it is a great resource to have, particularly mid-game when he can lean on the likes of Jos Buttler and Sam Curran for input and guidance. On the team combination, Brook confirms Buttler and Phil Salt will open, with himself coming in at three, Jacob Bethell at four, Banton at five, Curran at six, Jacks at seven, Dawson at eight, and Rashid, Saqib Mahmood and Luke Wood rounding out the lower order at nine, ten and eleven.

The captain of India - Shreyas Iyer says this is a great opportunity for them and this is the second series for him as the captain, so he is very excited. Shares that they had a session of practice to acclimatise yesterday. On the dressing room mood following the Ireland series, Iyer says things are absolutely fine. He admits that there were lessons to take away from that campaign but says the group has moved on, knows how England have been playing their cricket of late, and comes in with a clear picture of the opposition's strengths and weaknesses. On the pitch, Iyer notes there is a decent covering of grass on the surface and says the team got a look at it in the nets yesterday. He admits it is difficult to predict exactly how it will play, but says the intent from the batters will be high regardless. About the team combination, he informs that they are going with three spinners, including Axar as the all-rounder and a couple of seamers.