Abhishek and Shreyas shine before rain forces a no-result in the T20I series opener

Abhishek Sharma and captain Shreyas Iyer both shone with the bat before the weather had the final say, as the first T20I between England and India at Chester-le-Street ended in a no-result. Abhishek's explosive 59 and Iyer's composed 68 propelled India to a competitive 189 for seven, only for relentless rain to wash out England's chase before a ball could be bowled in their innings.

For India, the abandonment was a frustrating anticlimax — but the manner of their batting represented a significant and timely upturn after two underwhelming displays in their recent 0-2 series defeat in Ireland.

A shaky start

Having won the toss and elected to bat, India once again found themselves in early trouble. Sanju Samson fell for a single, driving Saqib Mahmood to point, before Ishan Kishan was run out without scoring following a mix-up with Abhishek — an almost carbon copy of his dismissal in Belfast.

At six for two, with the ghosts of the Ireland series flickering back into view, India needed someone to seize the initiative. Abhishek duly obliged.

Abhishek's blistering counter-attack

The left-handed opener responded to his own recent struggles in emphatic fashion, launching a spectacular assault on England's pacers. Luke Wood and Mahmood were carted to all parts, with Abhishek combining clean hitting with crisp timing as India plundered 21 runs from the fourth over alone.

He raced to a half-century off just 20 deliveries and refused to slow down, treating short-pitched deliveries with a pair of well-timed pulls and smashing Wood for a hat-trick of fours. His entertaining 59 from 24 balls, studded with six fours and four sixes, dragged India to 61 for two in the powerplay and completely shifted the momentum, before Sam Curran had him trapped lbw in the ninth over.

Iyer answers his critics

If Abhishek provided the fireworks, Iyer supplied the substance. Having endured two modest outings in Ireland, the skipper played the ideal supporting hand during their 82-run third-wicket stand before taking on the responsibility of anchoring the innings.

He was content to work the gaps and bat deep, but was no slouch when the opportunity arose, pulling leg-spinner Adil Rashid ferociously for four and lofting Wood over extra cover for six. Iyer reached his fifty from 38 balls and went on to make 68 from 47 — his ninth T20I half-century and his first as captain — a knock that will have settled plenty of nerves.

Dube provides the finish

Iyer built further partnerships of 36 with Tilak Varma and 41 with Shivam Dube to keep the innings ticking. Varma made a brisk 13 before falling to the impressive Mahmood, who finished with three for 33.

It was left to Dube to provide the late impetus, and the all-rounder delivered a crucial unbeaten cameo of 42 from just 21 balls, including three sixes, to power India past 185. In a curious move, Harshit Rana was promoted above Axar Patel but was stumped off Rashid, though it barely dented the momentum.

Rain has the final say

England were set a target of 190, but the contest never resumed after the innings break. The heavens opened at the Riverside Ground, and despite the groundstaff's efforts and more than an hour and a half of waiting, the umpires were left with no choice but to abandon the match.

It was a fittingly damp end to a day of intermittent showers, and notably the third international fixture to be washed out at this particular venue — a statistic that will not go unnoticed by schedulers.

The Sooryavanshi wait goes on

India opted to persist with their existing opening pair, meaning teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was again made to wait for his international debut. His continued omission remains a talking point, though Iyer has repeatedly backed the "brilliant prodigy" to shine whenever his opportunity arrives.

For now, the management appears content to tread cautiously, keeping their combinations under wraps and their options open as the series unfolds.

The final word

While the no-result denied fans a proper contest, India will take plenty of heart from the evening. The top order finally clicked, Abhishek rediscovered his spark and Iyer answered his critics with a captain's knock. The series remains goalless, but with the second T20I to follow in Manchester on Saturday, India head there with renewed belief that their batting is back on track.