Pakistan 42-1 from nine overs

Batsmen: Shehzad 21, Afridi 1

Fall of wickets: 38-1 (Sharjeel 17)

Bowling figures: Nehra 2-0-10-0, Ashwin 3-0-12-0, Bumrah 1-0-5-0, Jadeja 2-0-9-0, Raina 1-0-4-1

Full scorecard

It's unbelievable cricket, it really is. It's hard to describe just how much the ball is turning. It's landing in Kolkata, then turning and ending up in Mumbai. Good for T20 cricket? I'll let you decide, but it's certainly different. Pakistan might have promoted Afridi, but he's not looking too good against the turning ball. Halfway.

Ilyas Najib: Safe to say when my daughter wakes up from her nap, peppa pig will not be allowed on, it's all about India v Pakistan today.

sonsofpunjab: This is already a must win game for India having lost their first game.

Boom Boom has seen enough. Shahid Afridi has promoted himself to number three. Pandya has been injured, he's gone off the field.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"What a catch. He made some serious yardage there. The ball was just dragged a bit short. He did such a good job to hold on but it looks like his head has ricocheted into the ground."

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"It is hard to pace it. It is not easy to know what a good score is with it turning like this. Pakistan, with no wickets down, have an opportunity to post something reasonable."

More spin, Ravi Jadeja's whippy left-armers. Still Sharjeel swipes and heaves, but there's little wood on willow. Oh my word, how do you play that? Jadeja gets one to pitch leg and miss off against Shehzad, more turn than Warne's Ball of the Century. It's like a worn Test-match pitch. On the 18th day. On the moon.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"In this format, if you soak up balls you have to take on that pressure later. These two have taken the balls and adjusted to the conditions but one of them, at least, has to make sure they take it deep into the innings."

Still Ashwin, still befuddling this pair. Round the wicket to both right and left-hander, delivering the ball with an action of a man trying to free himself from a straight-jacket. Land the ball, turn and bounce, spitting cobra. Only four singles from the over. Ashwin has bowled 18 balls and gone for only one boundary.

I wonder if Pakistan are regretting playing the extra pacer. I wonder if India ordered this pitch to turn square. The impressive Jasprit Bumrah, a right-arm pacer is on, Sharjeel still batting like a man with someone else's arms. Finally, perhaps with his eyes shut, Bumrah square drives for four.

By the way, wherever you're following this game around the world, do let me know. Pictures too.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"One thing I have to say about Ashwin is that it takes a lot of skill to be able to land it in the right place when it turns so much. Some bowlers don't know how to control it in these conditions, but Ashwin is superb."

Imagine what it must be like to play in this match. 70,000 pairs of eyes in Kolkata, a billion more around the world. The closest thing to being in the Truman Show. More huge turn for Ashwin, leaving Sharjeel confused as to whether he's at school or the dentist. Shehzad, not waiting for the one with his name on it, heaves through cow corner for four.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"There are two things to this. There is a little bit in the pitch but you also have to hit your marker on the pitch to prevent the opposition getting away. Both the India bowlers have been right on it."

And the noise. Electric doesn't do it justice. It's the sort of night that will be ringing in your ears until Christmas. There's investment from the crowd, though. No nipping off for a hot dog here. Finally Sharjeel gets Pakistan moving, whipping Nehra to long leg for four.   

Image source, AP

Dhoni's seen the turn, but he's sticking with Nehra's left-arm pace for now. Pakistan still hunting that first boundary. 14 balls at the start of the innings without crossing the rope...

Image source, AFP

When Sharjeel finally gets bat on one, he accepts the single more gratefully than Augustus Gloop at the river of chocolate. Yet more turn from Ashwin. Don't bother with pace for the rest of this innings. This deck is madder than a box of frogs.