Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator

This is quite simply wonderful batting. This pair are quite rightly trusting the pitch and with the small ground dimensions and England’s pretty one-dimensional bowling attack. 250+ is definitely on the cards.

Just a couple of singles from the final two balls of Rashid's over.

How dull.

248-6 is the highest total England have conceded in T20s, if you're wondering.

That was by Australia at Southampton in 2013.

Ind 109-1published at 6.4 overs

6.4 overs

No respect for Adil Rashid, he too goes for consecutive sixes.

Abhishek Sharma brings up India's hundred from Rashid's third delivery, lifting the ball over long-on, then hits another straight drive into the stands.

His seventh six already.

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator

Well, this pitch is a belter, and England look worryingly short of spin options.

Image source, Getty Images

Well, at least this over hasn't had any sixes.

England bring on Liam Livingstone's spin on for the final over of the powerplay and the India batters take him for three fours.

Abhishek slaps the first ball of the over through point before Tilak Verma fires through cover then reverse sweeps over short third.

The fielders go back - will it make much difference?

Kieran Parmley
Cricviz analyst

Wankhede games in IPL 2023 & 2024:

Batting first - six wins

Bowling first - eight wins

Five of those six wins batting first have come when posting over 200.

Four more!

Tilak closes Overton's first over by smacking the Surrey seamer down the ground for another boundary.

25 runs from Overton's first six balls, India are going at 16 an over.

And now the fifty partnership, off just 18 balls.

Tilak Verma has been the junior partner, but he moves to seven with a top-edgey six on the hook.

50 for Abhishek Sharmapublished at 4.2 overs

4.2 overs

Ind 67-1

Image source, Reuters

Back-to-back sixes to bring up his fifty!

Abhishek Sharma goes after Jamie Overton from the off, striking consecutive lofted drives down the ground.

His half-century comes up off 17 balls, the second fastest in this format for India.

And he keeps the strike with a single into the covers.

Watch out Jamie Overton, who is coming onto bowl.

Ind 54-1published at 3.5 overs

3.5 overs

More and more.

Mark Wood gets hit for his six, with Abhishek smashing him over point.

India pass 50 and the India opener is on 37 from 14.

Now Mark Wood gets the treatment.

A single brings Abhishek Sharma back on strike and he goes again with consecutive fours.

A pull to the mid-wicket ropes then a beautifully timed checked drive down the ground.

Kieran Parmley
Cricviz analyst

Since the start of 2024, Abhishek Sharma strikes at 187 in the powerplay. Only his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Travis Head scores faster in the first six overs (193).

Ind 39-1published at 3 overs

3 overs

More from Abhishek!

He hits back-to-back sixes to close Archer's second over, hitting a lofted cut over point then cleaving the ball over the covers.

Archer's first two overs have gone for 16 and 18.

And away goes Abhishek Sharma!

He comes down the track to swat Jofra Archer for four through the covers, then takes two with a mistimed lofted drive over mid-on which plugs just short of the boundary.

Kieran Parmley
Cricviz analyst

Across the last two IPL seasons, the run rate in games at the Wankhede sits at 9.84 runs per over, the third highest of the 14 grounds used in this timeframe.

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator

The Archer plan to Samson works for Wood. In fairness, that should have been planted in the stands, but in a glorious irony, ended up in Archer’s hands.